Sensitization and Allergy to Enzymes

The prevalence of enzyme sensitization in the bakeries was 7.8% when all the employees were taken into account and 11.8% in the bakers group. The prevalence coincides with those report edelsewhere in Europe, for example, 516% in the United Kingdom (Cullinan et al 1994, Smith & Smith 1998, Jeffrey et al 1999,Nieuwenhuijsen et al 1999), 9% in The Netherlands (Houba et al 1996), 7.5% in Italy (DeZotti et al 1994), and 19% in Germany (Baur1998a).

The prevalence of flour sensitization in bakeries was12%, which was on about the same order as elsewhere in Europe in the aforementioned studies (6%24%). The employees sensitized to enzymes belonged to typical groups exposed to flour and enzymes,but a detailed exposure profile was not included in the original study design. Thus further exposure-response assessment was not possible.It was learned that the job tasks of many of the sensitized workers had varied over the years. The study demonstrated that exposure to powdered additives containing enzymes leads to sensitition in Finnish bakers. In the rye crisp factory, where exposure was less on the whole than in the bakeries, sensitization to enzymes was rare. Cellulase was shown to cause sensitization even at moderate exposure levels. There was a significant association between enzyme sensitization and work-related respiratory symptoms.

However, co-sensitization with flours was common, and the origin of the symptoms was difficult to determine.The animal feed industry is a new area of enzyme application. It was demonstrated that enzymes pose an allergy risk in this industry,too. The risk is smaller than, for example, in the baking industry, but,still, cases of occupational asthma due to enzymes have occurred.There was a correlation between sensitization to enzymes and work-related symptoms, and some of the sensitized workers reported symptoms when exposed to enzymes. One of the enzymes to which sensitization was shown was phytase, which has been developed solely for use in animal feeding. Previously, sensitization to phytase was found in Finnish enzyme production (study II). These were the first reports of allergy caused by this enzyme.\r In the detergent factory, a surprisingly high prevalence (22%) of symptomatic sensitization was found among the process workers.

In addition to established allergens in the industry, the bacterial proteases, sensitization to new enzymes such as lipase and cellulase was detected. This was the first publication on the allergenity of these enzymes in the detergent industry. Sensitization to bacterial a amylase (Termamyl ) in the industry had been noted since the late 1980s (Sarlo et al 1997). In a later paper from the same multinational detergent company it was also reported that sensitization to lipase had been detected in the early 1990s (Peters et al 2001).

In addition the present study showed that enzyme allergy is still possible, and it can even occur at a high rate, in the detergent industry, despite the use of encapsulated enzyme preparations that are principally considered nondusty and safe. This conclusion received support recently from the study of Cullinan et al (2000) in the United Kingdom. The prevalence of sensitization and clinical allergy in these two studies was in clear contrast to the prevalences\r reported by large multinational companies (Cathcart et al 1997, Schweigert et al 2000, Peters et al 2001). Obviously there are large variations in industrial hygiene conditions between different plants.

Small industries may find it economically difficult to meet all the standards of the industrial hygiene programs conducted in large companies, including periodic health checks and continuous monitoring of workplace air by immunoassays (Schweigert et al 2000,Nicholson et al 2001).\r In the enzyme-producing industry, a high rate of sensitization, up to 25%, was noted in subgroups with high levels of exposure.

The division into subgroups enabled exposure-response (sensitization and respiratory symptoms) calculations, and a statistically significant trend was found for both sensitization and symptoms. A unique feature was the high allergy risk of the laboratory personnel. It turned out that powdered enzymes had been handled rather carelessly, and, clearly, an awareness of the sensitizing properties of the cellulolytic enzymes was lacking.

In addition to the sensitization of the employees who handled enzymes themselves or worked in the vicinity of enzyme handling, some cases of sensitization were found among people not involved directly in production, for example, among the cleaning and maintenance personnel and also among office personnel with occasional exposure. Maintenance workers may be exposed to the\r highest peak concentrations of enzymes in the workplace. The practice of hiring personnel on a subcontract basis is becoming general, and this practice increases the probability of being exposed to enzymes. The experiences gained in the subcontract plant that spray-dried cellulase confirmed the importance of proper and sufficient information. The employees in the subcontract plant were clearly ignorant about the sensitizing properties of the substances they were handling.

Latex Allergy Is Not Just A Rubber Allergy
Natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy has emerged over the last decade, it is an allergic sensitivity to the proteins in NRL tha...

Skin Allergies
Skin Allergies are one of the most prevalent causes of skin conditions. Generally, they are caused by an immune system which ...

Scalp Eczema - Uncover Your Food Allergies
If you suffer with scalp eczema it is usually down to some kind of allergy. Sufferers tend to have allergies to substances, ...

Allergy Drops and Sublingual Immunotherapy
Many people who find their allergy symptoms are starting to control their life often look to immunotherapy for a solution the...

Allergy And Deodorant Connection
The connection between your allergy and deodorant is not that you may be allergic to an ingredient in the product. In additio...

Determine The Difference Between A Food Allergy And A Food Intolerance
It is important that you determine if you are having a food intolerance versus a food allergy, if eating a specific food caus...

What Makes Seasonal Allergies So Bad Some Years?
Many people who suffer from seasonal allergies often find some years they have little or no allergy symptoms, than the next y...

Gluten Allergy Symptoms
Gluten allergy makes allergic people miserable. Symptoms of Gluten allergy are like runny nose or itchy eyes, which troubles ...

Food Allergy
Just what is a food allergy? Some people mistake that having a food allergy means that the food is bad for them. In one sense...

You May Be in Need of an Allergy Treatment
A lot of people are suffering from allergies and simply dont have an idea about it. They sniff and sneeze every ten minutes a...

Will Peanut Allergy Symptoms Soon Be A Thing Of The Past?
Peanut allergies are on the rise worldwide among children, and even though awareness is increasing there is still a great ris...

The Rise of Allergies and Asthma
It is estimated that over half of Americans between the ages of 6 and 59 would test positive to one or more allergens. It is ...

Coping With An Asthma Allergy
The number of people being diagnosed with asthma is steadily increasing. This condition is quite bad because there is no idea...

Discover A Crohns Disease Natural Treatment
Reducing inflammation is the goal of Crohns disease natural treatment options, as well as prescription medications, typically...

Allergy Relief Air Purifiers - Relief for Allergy Sufferers
Many who suffer from allergies find themselves suffering almost constantly, especially in the spring and summer months when t...

10 Tips For Natural Pet Allergy Relief
You may develop allergy symptoms after getting a new pet. Or you may even find may feel yourself getting pet allergy symptom...

Living With An MSG Allergy
Are you allergic to MSG? If you have a MSG allergy, you need to understand what it is and what foods might contain MSG. MSG ...

The Biggest Mistake People With Seasonal Allergies Make
People with seasonal allergies often find their allergy attacks seem to happen very quickly and with little warning. One day ...

Types of Allergy Testing
Our immune system plays impotent role to keep our body safe from dangerous harms. Allergy is response of our immune system, w...

I Have A Cat Allergy - What Can I Do?
If we were smart we would avoid things that we are allergic to but who said most of us were smart or sane when it comes to ou...