On Tue, 02 Aug 2005 11:02:35 +0100, Peter Parry
wrote:

Any particulate matter can cause irritation and coughing, fibreglass
in particular can also irritate the skin. What fibreglass cannot do
is cause an allergic reaction.

That probably depends on whether you are using the term allergy in a
strict and technical sense. If you are referring only to IgE mediated
hypersensitivity, then I think you are right - an allergy can only be
cause by a protein.

Aspirin, however, is not a protein, and people speak of being allergic
to aspirin.

Mr F.