Occupational safety

Enzymes have a very good safety profile. The exceptions to the safety profile are the ability of some enzyme products containing protease enzymes to cause irritating effects at high concentrations, and the intrinsic respiratory sensitization potential of all enzymes.

Such sensitization may cause respiratory allergy in individuals exposed repeatedly to sufficiently high airborne concentrations of enzyme dust or aerosols.
Respiratory allergy caused by enzymes is similar to the respiratory allergy caused by well-known allergens like grass pollen, house dust mites or cat dander, and the symptoms from an enzyme allergy are also similar to the symptoms known from allergies towards grass pollen, house dust mites, cat dander etc.

Both the irritating effect by enzyme products containing protease and the sensitizing potential intrinsic to all enzymes can be controlled by proper process control, product formulation, and adequate handling instructions to avoiding dust or aerosols.

Taking the above into consideration, AMFEP has developed a guide on the safe handling of enzyme preparations for industrial use and on safety assessments in regards to consumer use. The characteristics of enzymes, inherent hazards of enzyme preparations and possible health risks from exposure are discussed. Methods to minimize these risks are presented.