Defining occupational and consumer exposure limits for enzyme protein respiratory allergens under REACH

Basketter, David A.; Broekhuizen, C.; Fieldsend, Mark; Kirkwood, Sheila; Mascarenhas, Reuben; Maurer, Kurt; Pedersen, Camilla; Rodríguez, Carlos; Schiff, Hans Erik

doi:10.1016/j.tox.2009.12.014

Cited by 36 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Thus, OELs for enzymes in detergent manufacturing are typically in the range of 5-15 ng/m 3 . Through use of these limits sensitisation has been minimised and symptoms avoided in workforces handling a range of enzymes (Basketter et al, 2010(Basketter et al, , 2012Peters et al, 2001;Sarlo, 2003). It can be concluded, therefore, that in the case of human respiratory sensitisation to proteins there is evidence for thresholds even if they may not currently be specified numerically.…”

Section: Data From Human Studies/clinical Experiencementioning

confidence: 99%

Thresholds in chemical respiratory sensitisation

et al. 2015

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There is a continuing interest in determining whether it is possible to identify thresholds for chemical allergy. Here allergic sensitisation of the respiratory tract by chemicals is considered in this context. This is an important occupational health problem, being associated with rhinitis and asthma, and in addition provides toxicologists and risk assessors with a number of challenges. In common with all forms of allergic disease chemical respiratory allergy develops in two phases. In the first (induction) phase exposure to a chemical allergen (by an appropriate route of exposure) causes immunological priming and sensitisation of the respiratory tract. The second (elicitation) phase is triggered if a sensitised subject is exposed subsequently to the same chemical allergen via inhalation. A secondary immune response will be provoked in the respiratory tract resulting in inflammation and the signs and symptoms of a respiratory hypersensitivity reaction. In this article attention has focused on the identification of threshold values during the acquisition of sensitisation. Current mechanistic understanding of allergy is such that it can be assumed that the development of sensitisation (and also the elicitation of an allergic reaction) is a threshold phenomenon; there will be levels of exposure below which sensitisation will not be acquired. That is, all immune responses, including allergic sensitisation, have threshold requirement for the availability of antigen/allergen, below which a response will fail to develop. The issue addressed here is whether there are methods available or clinical/epidemiological data that permit the identification of such thresholds. This document reviews briefly relevant human studies of occupational asthma, and experimental models that have been developed (or are being developed) for the identification and characterisation of chemical respiratory allergens. The main conclusion drawn is that although there is evidence that the acquisition of sensitisation to chemical respiratory allergens is a dose-related phenomenon, and that thresholds exist, it is frequently difficult to define accurate numerical values for threshold exposure levels. Nevertheless, based on occupational exposure data it may sometimes be possible to derive levels of exposure in the workplace, which are safe. An additional observation is the lack currently of suitable experimental methods for both routine hazard characterisation and the measurement of thresholds, and that such methods are still some way off. Given the current trajectory of toxicology, and the move towards the use of non-animal in vitro and/or in silico) methods, there is a need to consider the development of alternative approaches for the identification and characterisation of respiratory sensitisation hazards, and for risk assessment.

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Section: Data From Human Studies/clinical Experiencementioning

confidence: 99%

Thresholds in chemical respiratory sensitisation

et al. 2015

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“…However, household cleaning substances are classified in the top five substances most frequently involved in all human exposure complaints [3]. Whereas occupational exposure is controlled and monitored, this is not the case for the general consumer [34]. Furthermore, homemakers have no training on the potential toxicity of the products used.…”

Section: Public Health Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Domestic use of cleaning sprays and asthma activity in females

et al. 2012

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We aimed to study the associations between the household use of cleaning sprays and asthma symptoms and control of asthma, in females from the Epidemiological Study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma (EGEA).Data were available for 683 females (mean age 44 yrs, 55% never smokers, 439 without asthma and 244 with current asthma). Both domestic exposures and asthma phenotypes (asthma symptom score, current asthma, poorly-controlled asthma (56%)) were evaluated as previously described in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. Associations between the use of sprays and asthma phenotypes were evaluated using logistic and nominal regressions, adjusted for age, smoking, body mass index and occupational exposures.Significant associations were observed between the weekly use of at least two types of sprays and a high asthma symptom score (OR (95% CI) 2.50 (1.54-4.03)) compared with a null score. Consistent results were observed for current asthma (1.67 (1.08-2.56)) and poorly-controlled asthma (2.05 (1.25-3.35)) compared with females without asthma. The association for current asthma was higher in females not reporting avoidance of polluted places (2.12 (1.27-3.54)) than in those reporting such avoidance (0.99 (0.53-1.85)).The common use of household cleaning sprays is positively associated with a high asthma symptom score, current asthma and poorly-controlled asthma in females.

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“…17,18 In industries that utilize or manufacture enzymes, in-house occupational exposure guidelines derived minimal effect levels (60 ng m −3 ). 19 For other agents, risk assessments may be based on exposure-response associations found in relevant epidemiological studies, e.g. β(1 → 3)-glucans and allergens, but lack of standardization of measurement methods represents a great challenge.…”

Section: Risk Assessment and Exposure Limitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bioaerosol exposure assessment in the workplace: the past, present and recent advances

et al. 2012

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Louis Pasteur described the first measurements of airborne microorganisms in 1861. A century later, the inhalation of spores from thermophilic microorganisms was shown to induce attacks of farmers' lung in patients with this disease, while endotoxins originating from Gram-negative bacteria were identified as causal agents for byssinosis in cotton workers. Further epidemiological and toxicological studies have demonstrated inflammatory, respiratory, and pathogenic effects following exposure to bioaerosols. Exposure assessment is often confounded by the diversity of bioaerosol agents in the environment. Microorganisms represent a highly diverse group that may vary in toxicity. Fungi and bacteria are mainly quantified as broad groups using a variety of viable and nonviable assessment methods. Endotoxins and β(1 → 3)-glucans are mainly measured by their activity in the Limulus amebocyte lysate assay, enzymes by immuno-chemical methods and mycotoxins by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Few health-based occupational exposure limits (OELs) are available for risk assessment. spores recently proposed a lowest observed effect level of 100 000 spores m −3 for non-pathogenic and non-mycotoxin producing species based on inflammatory respiratory effects. Recent developments in bioaerosol assessment were presented at the Organic Dust Tromsł Symposium including molecular biological methods for infectious agents and organisms that are difficult to cultivate; studies of submicronic and hyphal fragments from fungi; the effect of biodiversity of microorganisms in asthma studies; and new/improved measurement methods for fungal antigens, enzymes and allergens. Although exposure assessment of bioaerosol agents is complex and limited by the availability of methods and criteria, the field is rapidly evolving. HHS Public Access

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Defining occupational and consumer exposure limits for enzyme protein respiratory allergens under REACH

Cited by 36 publications

References 34 publications

Thresholds in chemical respiratory sensitisation

Thresholds in chemical respiratory sensitisation

Domestic use of cleaning sprays and asthma activity in females

Bioaerosol exposure assessment in the workplace: the past, present and recent advances

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