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Industrial fungal enzymes: an occupational allergen perspective.
Authors
Green BJ; Beezhold DH
Source
J Allergy 2011 Mar; 2011:682574
NIOSHTIC No.
20038979
Abstract
Occupational exposure to high-molecular-weight allergens is a risk factor for the development and pathogenesis of IgE-mediated respiratory disease. In some occupational environments, workers are at an increased risk of exposure to fungal enzymes used in industrial production. Fungal enzymes have been associated with adverse health effects in the work place, in particular in baking occupations. Exposure-response relationships have been demonstrated, and atopic workers directly handling fungal enzymes are at an increased risk for IgE-mediated disease and occupational asthma. The utilization of new and emerging fungal enzymes in industrial production will present new occupational exposures. The production of antibody-based immunoassays is necessary for the assessment of occupational exposure and the development of threshold limit values. Allergen avoidance strategies including personal protective equipment, engineering controls, protein encapsulation, and reduction of airborne enzyme concentrations are required to mitigate occupational exposure to fungal enzymes.
Keywords
Airborne-particles; Air-quality-monitoring; Air-treatment-equipment; Allergens; Allergic-reactions; Allergies; Biohazards; Biological-effects; Biological-transport; Engineering-controls; Fungal-diseases; Fungal-infections; Fungi; Health-hazards; Immune-system; Molecular-biology; Molecular-structure; Personal-protection; Personal-protective-equipment; Physical-reactions; Physiological-response; Protective-equipment; Protective-measures; Quantitative-analysis; Respiratory-hypersensitivity; Respiratory-irritants; Respiratory-system-disorders; Risk-analysis; Risk-factors; Safety-measures; Statistical-analysis; Work-environment; Worker-health; Work-operations; Work-performance; Workplace-studies; Work-practices
Contact
Brett J. Green, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1095 Willowdale Drive, Morgantown, WV 26505
CODEN
JAOLAY
Publication Date
20110301
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
dox6@cdc.gov
Fiscal Year
2011
ISSN
1687-9783
NIOSH Division
HELD
Priority Area
Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing; Services
Source Name
Journal of Allergy
State
WV
Page last reviewed: May 11, 2023
Content source:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Education and Information Division