The Effect of Laundry Detergent Containing <i>B. subtilis</i> Enzyme in Producing Sensitization Reactions in Guinea Pigs

Abstract

Guinea pigs exposed to laundry detergents containing B. subtilis enzymes (alcalase) under home use conditions, i.e. by inhalation, abraded skin or topical application and oral ingestion, produced sensitization reactions. The jejunum smooth muscles of these animals contracted in the presence of alcalase and the sera caused morphological changes of rat mast cells in the presence of alcalase. It was found that long periods (50–60 days) of chronic exposure was necessary to produce sensitization. The relevance of these results to sensitization of consumers to B. subtilis enzymes in laundry detergent is discussed.