Sensitivity to enzyme additives in laundry detergent workers

Slavin, Raymond G.; Lewis, Charles R.

doi:10.1016/0091-6749(71)90026-1

Cited by 25 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In the group of sixty-five factory workers positive prick test reactions to the B. subtilis enzymes were given mainly by the atopic subjects (15/18) rather than the nonatopies (11 /47). This greater tendency of atopic subjects identified here by prick test reactions to common allergens to become allergic to the enzyme preparations, has been reported by others (Newhouse e/a/., 1970;Mitchell & Gandevia, 1971;Bernstein, 1972;Slavin & Lewis, 1971).…”

Section: Disctissionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…These associations between clinical symptoms, atopy and positive prick test reactions are like those of Newhouse et al (1970), Slavin & Lewis (1971) and Dolovich & Little (1972). They differ, however, from the report by Mitchell & Gandevia (1971) who found no difference in skin test reactions to the enzymes in symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects, though there was a significant correlation of positive prick test reactions to the enzymes with prick tests to common allergens.…”

Section: Disctissionsupporting

confidence: 46%

“…There are many reports of sensitization of factory workers (Greenberg, Milne & Watt, 1970: Newhouse et al, 1970McMurruin, 1970;Slavin & Lewis, 1971;Nagy, Lichtenstein & Bali, 1971;Mitchell & Gandevia, 1971), but considering the extensive usage of 'biological" detergents, few reports in consumers (Belin, Hoborn & Falsen. 1970;Bernstein, 1972;Shapiro & Eisenberg, 1971;Faileroni & Schwartz, 1971).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Clinical and immunological responses to enzymes of Bacillus subtilis in factory workers and consumers

Pepys

Wells

D'Souza

et al. 1973

Clin Experimental Allergy

104

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary Skin (prick) and serological tests were made with enzyme preparations of Bacillus subtilis in exposed factory workers and potential ‘consumers’. Prick tests with these materials at 10 mg/ml gave positive immediate reactions in twenty‐six out of sixty‐five factory workers. Eighteen of the factory workers were classified as atopic because of allergy to common allergens and fifteen gave positive reactions to the enzymes compared with eleven out of forty‐seven non‐atopic workers. A group of eleven of the factory workers had consistent ventilatory impairment on repeated examination; all were prick test positive and seven were atopic, and four non‐atopic. Of 2500 patients attending for investigation of respiratory allergy, 40% were highly atopic, 40% moderately atopic and 20% non‐atopic. 80% were consumers of biological detergents. Only two gave weak, not clinically relevant, prick test reactions to the enzyme preparations. In radioallergosorbent (RAST) tests for specific IgE antibody against the enzyme preparations, counts in the present investigation of 600/30 sec or more corresponded best with prick test positivity, such values being found in twelve of the fifteen prick test positive atopics and in eight of the eleven workers with ventilatory impairment. Comparison of the RAST counts on sera from cord blood and from the patients who included non, light and heavy consumers showed increasingly higher specific IgE counts in these groups, although these counts were almost all below the level of 600/30 sec, which corresponded with skin test reactions and clinical relevance. Radioimmunodiffusion (RID) and radioimmunoelectrophoretic (RIEP) tests with enzyme preparations gave positive reactions only in the factory workers, of whom forty‐three had IgG and twenty‐one IgA antibody, none having only IgE antibody.

show abstract

Section: Disctissionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Disctissionsupporting

confidence: 46%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Clinical and immunological responses to enzymes of Bacillus subtilis in factory workers and consumers

Pepys

Wells

D'Souza

et al. 1973

Clin Experimental Allergy

104

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Occupational asthma (OA) associated with the use of proteolytic enzymes in the manufacture of detergents was reported by Flindt and Pepys in 1969 [1, 2]. The medical community rapidly recognized the risk of allergic antibody‐mediated OA associated with enzyme use in the detergent industry [3–16] as well as during the manufacture of enzymes [17–19]. The first enzyme to be associated with adverse respiratory health affects was a serine protease derived from Bacillus species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Occupational asthma and allergy associated with the use of enzymes in the detergent industry–a review of the epidemiology, toxicology and methods of prevention

Schweigert

MacKenzie

Sarlo³

2000

Clin Experimental Allergy

111

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Occupational asthma to proteolytic enzymes have been documented in a variety of workers (32,35,52,83,90,95,98,115,130). Proteases (subtilisins or subtilopetidases) obtained from strains of B. subtilis exhibit enzyme activity over a wide pH and temperature range and are therefore ideally suited for incorporation into household cleaning agents.…”

Section: Mechanisms Proposed For Occupational Asthmamentioning

confidence: 99%