Comments
Occupational asthma has been reported in workers who prepare enzymes, package powder, and handle drums or sacks. Implicated enzymes include: esperase, amyloglucosidase, hemicellulase, lipase, amylase, papain, lysosyme, flaviastase, subtilisins, pancreatin, pepsin, trypsin, bromelin, peptidase, pectinase, glucanase, lactase, xylanase, and pectinase. Enzymes used in pharmaceutical industry include: papain, egg lysosyme, flaviastase, pancreatin, pepsin, bromelain, lactase, phytase,, and serratial peptidase. Prevalence of asthma was 17% in 35 cheese producers making rennet, a mixture of enzymes; Occupational asthma reported in detergent industry; Study of 1642 workers found prevalence of 3.2% (over 7 years); (Bacillus subtilis makes enzymes used in detergents); [Malo]