Occupational asthma in fruit salad processing.

BACKGROUND: Three subjects employed in the preparation of fruit for fruit salads reported work-related respiratory symptoms. Their work entailed removing the peel from citrus fruits, primarily oranges, following soaking of the fruits in a bath of enzymes including fungal derived pectinase and glucanase. Objectives To investigate the respiratory symptoms reported by these workers and determine their causes. METHODS: The three workers were investigated by a respiratory physician, including spirometry and serial peak flow measurements. Blood was taken for the measurement of IgE and IgG antibody responses against the enzyme solution. RESULTS: Predominant symptoms in these workers were shortness of breath, chest tightness and wheezing which were all alleviated at weekends and holidays only to occur when returning to work. Serial peak flow measurements showed a clear work-related pattern. All three had strong IgE responses to the enzyme solution used at the workplace and showed distinct patterns of binding in immunoblots. All three improved immensely following withdrawal from the workplace environment. CONCLUSION: Enzymes appear to be widely used in the preparation of fruit and although they are used in liquid form, exposure can occur to induce immunological sensitization and asthma.

[Allergic pathology due to enzymes: a case report of asthma due to pectinase (polygalacturonase)]. / La patologia allergica da enzimi: descrizione di un caso di asma da pectinase (poligalatturonasi).

The paper described the case of a worker handling pectinase, an enzyme used in the manufacture of food additives. This enzyme is a carbohydrase (polygalacturonase) obtained by extraction, and consists of three active phases. After little more than a year at the job, the subject complained of bouts of asthma, especially when she had to weigh the enzyme in dust form. Symptoms appeared even when this operation was performed by others near her work station. An allergological examination revealed skin hypersensitivity to the enzyme, without atopy. The methods of preparing the tests performed are described. The authors stress the need to perform similar investigations on other exposed workers in order to assess the allergogenic potential of the substance and adjust environmental preventive measures accordingly.