Risk of enzyme allergy in the detergent industry.

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  • Additional Information
    • Source:
      Publisher: BMJ Pub. Group Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9422759 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 1351-0711 (Print) Linking ISSN: 13510711 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Occup Environ Med Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: London : BMJ Pub. Group, c1994-
    • Subject Terms:
      Enzymes/*adverse effects ; Hypersensitivity/*epidemiology ; Occupational Diseases/*epidemiology ; Occupational Exposure/*adverse effects; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Detergents ; Female ; Humans ; Industry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Radioallergosorbent Test ; Skin Tests
    • Abstract:
      Objectives: To assess the prevalence of enzyme sensitisation in the detergent industry.
      Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in a detergent factory. Sensitisation to enzymes was examined by skin prick and radioallergosorbent (RAST) tests. 76 Workers were tested; 40 in manufacturing, packing, and maintenance, and 36 non-exposed people in management and sales departments. The workers were interviewed for work related respiratory and skin symptoms. Total dust concentrations were measured by a gravimetric method, and the concentration of protease in air by a catalytic method.
      Results: Nine workers (22%) were sensitised to enzymes in the exposed group of 40, whereas none were sensitised in the non-exposed group. All the sensitised people had symptoms at work; all had rhinitis and one had asthma. Protease concentrations were generally < 20 ng/m3, but occasional peak values up to 80 ng/m3 were detected in the packing and maintenance tasks, and high values of > 1 microgram/m3 in the mixing area.
      Conclusion: Despite the use of encapsulated enzyme preparations, high enzyme concentrations in workplace air are possible, resulting in a higher risk of sensitisation than expected.
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    • Accession Number:
      0 (Detergents)
      0 (Enzymes)
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20000311 Date Completed: 20000327 Latest Revision: 20190503
    • Publication Date:
      20231215
    • Accession Number:
      PMC1739908
    • Accession Number:
      10.1136/oem.57.2.121
    • Accession Number:
      10711280