title: Enzymes in cleaning products: an overview of toxicological properties and risk assessment/management.
abstract: Enzymes used in cleaning products have an excellent safety profile, with little ability to cause adverse responses in humans. For acute toxicity, genotoxicity, sub-acute and repeated dose toxicity, enzymes are unremarkable. Reproductive toxicity and carcinogenicity are also not endpoints of concern. Exceptions are the ability of some proteases to produce irritating effects at high concentrations and more importantly, the intrinsic potential of these bacterial/fungal proteins to act as respiratory sensitizers. It is a reasonable assumption that the majority of enzyme proteins possess this hazard. However, methods for characterising the respiratory sensitisation hazard of enzymes are lacking and the information required for risk assessment and risk management, although sufficient, remains limited. Previously, most data was generated in animal models and in in vitro immunoassays that assess immunological cross-reactivity. Nevertheless, by the establishment of strict limits on airborne exposure (based on a defined minimal effect limit of 60ng active enzyme protein/m(3)) and air and health monitoring, occupational safety can be assured. Similarly, by ensuring that airborne exposure is kept similarly low, coupled with knowledge of the fate of these enzymes on skin and fabrics, it has proven possible to establish a long history of safe consumer use of enzyme containing products.
authors: DABMEB Consultancy Ltd., Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire MK44 1PR, UK. dabmebconsultancyltd@me.com
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Basketter
authors: Ninna
authors: N
authors: Berg
authors: Cees
authors: C
authors: Broekhuizen
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Fieldsend
authors: Sheila
authors: S
authors: Kirkwood
authors: Cornelia
authors: C
authors: Kluin
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Mathieu
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000145:classification / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000633:toxicity; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D003902:Detergents / Q000633:toxicity*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004798:Enzymes / Q000633:toxicity*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D007509:Irritants / Q000145:classification / Q000633:toxicity*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D009153:Mutagens / Q000145:classification / Q000633:toxicity; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000633:toxicity; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018675:Toxicity Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D003902:Detergents; D004798:Enzymes; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D007509:Irritants; D009153:Mutagens; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases