The toxicology and immunology of detergent enzymes

Abstract

Detergent enzymes have a very good safety profile, with almost no capacity to generate adverse acute or chronic responses in humans. The exceptions are the limited ability of some proteases to produce irritating effects at high concentrations, and the intrinsic potential of these bacterial and fungal proteins to act as respiratory sensitizers, demonstrated in humans during the early phase of the industrial use of enzymes during the 1960s and 1970s. How enzymes generate these responses are beginning to become a little clearer, with a developing appreciation of the cell surface mechanism(s) by which the enzymatic activity promotes the T-helper (T(H))-2 cell responses, leading to the generation of IgE. It is a reasonable assumption that the majority of enzyme proteins possess this intrinsic hazard. However, toxicological methods for characterizing further the respiratory sensitization hazard of individual enzymes remains a problematic area, with the consequence that the information feeding into risk assessment/management, although sufficient, is limited. Most of this information was in the past generated in animal models and in vitro immunoassays that assess immunological cross-reactivity. Ultimately, by understanding more fully the mechanisms which drive the IgE response to enzymes, it will be possible to develop better methods for hazard characterization and consequently for risk assessment and management.

Enzymes in cleaning products: An overview of toxicological properties and risk assessment/management

“…However, any such positive results are essentially meaningless as these assays were designed for chemical hazard identification; with ''foreign'' proteins, when they can gain access to the viable epidermis, they simply provide evidence of a functioning adaptive immune system (Basketter et al, 2012a;REACH, 2010a,b). Enzyme proteins are not able to behave as classic haptens of the type associated with cell-mediated delayed hypersensitivity (reviewed in Divkovic et al, 2005).…”

“…Although there is published evidence that enzymes can drive the formation of anaphylactic IgE antibodies in animal models (Sarlo et al, 1997;Robinson et al, 1998;Basketter et al, 2012a), the most critical information derives from human experience. It is well known that sufficient exposure can lead to the clinical symptoms of allergy including asthma.…”

“…However, exposure has since then been controlled by industry by the use of formulation technology so that respiratory sensitisation does not occur in consumers and only at very low rates occupationally, such that workers remain asymptomatic (e.g. Basketter et al, 2010Basketter et al, , 2012aSarlo et al, 2010;Weeks et al, 2011).…”

Survey of Respiratory Symptoms, Spirometry, and Rast and Their Relation to Occupational Exposures Among Detergent Products Staff

“…Using RAST, we found that 119 (9%) of the plant workers were sensitized to the used enzymes .The frequency of enzyme sensitization was similar to a study done in Denmark by Johnsen et al, 1997. Although Detergent enzymes have a very good safety profile as mentioned by researches (Basketter, 2012). Material Safety Data Sheet mentioned that inhalation of dust/aerosols may induce sensitization in susceptible individuals or may cause irritation of the respiratory tract (Fishersci, 2014).…”

Water Hardness Key Element in Choosing Between Washing Efficiency with Enzyme Detergent and the Lifespan of the Washing Machine

“…A review from 2017 identifies detergents, and especially enzyme detergents, as a pathognomonic cause of atopic dermatitis, causing skin dehydration, skin pH modification, proinflammatory cytokine release and even mediated IgE hypersensitivity [38]. The market for enzyme detergents has much evolved -if in the 1970s type I, IgE mediated allergies were fairly prevalent especially in people with atopic terrain, the prevalence of these allergies nowadays is rare, caused by long exposure or high concentrations of detergent (asthma and allergies to workers in the detergents industry -occupational hazard) [39,40].…”