title: Respiratory complaints and high sensitization rate at a rennet-producing plant.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Workers in a rennet producing plant reported airway symptoms, mainly rhinitis. Rennet was produced as fluid and powder with proteolytic enzymes as the active component.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data on airway symptoms and known allergies were collected and skin prick tests (SPTs) with the rennet types produced in the plant and standard allergens were carried out on 35 plant employees. An identical SPT was carried out on 28 controls without known exposure to rennet.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one employees (60%) had hay fever-like symptoms, 10 cases mainly at work. Nine had mild to moderate asthma-like symptoms, in six cases related to the work place. Fourteen had a positive SPT to one or more rennets. The sensitization rate was highest among employees with regular contact to rennet powder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rennet is a potent allergen. Respiratory symptoms and sensitization can occur in connection with rennet exposure, especially as a powder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Haderslev Hospital, Haderslev, Denmark. ankerjensen@mil.dk
authors.forename: Anker
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sherson
authors.forename: Birgitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sommer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000485:Allergens; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology; D012085:Chymosin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D019649:Food Industry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000209:etiology; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000209:etiology; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; C025350:rennet; D012085:Chymosin