Risk of enzyme allergy in the detergent industry.
OBJECTIVE
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the use of encapsulated enzyme preparations, high enzyme concentrations in workplace air are possible, resulting in a higher risk of sensitisation than expected.
Vanhanen
M
M
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland. Markku.Vanhanen@occuphealth.fi
Tuomi
T
T
Tiikkainen
U
U
Tupasela
O
O
Voutilainen
R
R
Nordman
H
H
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003902:Detergents; D004798:Enzymes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D012882:Skin Tests
D003902:Detergents; D004798:Enzymes