Since the late 60’ies is has been known that enzymes in some people may cause allergy if inhaled as dust or aerosols. The effect is comparable to inhalation of pollen, animal dander or house dust mites. Enzyme allergy is an occupational health hazard solely as no cases of health effects to enzymes among consumers have been reported during almost 30 years.
How can occupational allergy to enzymes be prevented? Simply by preventing airborne dust or aerosols.
Novozymes provides enzymes as liquids or dry granulated products. From a safety point of view a great advantage of granulated products is that these larger particles cannot easily become airborne and inhaled.
Besides offering less dusty products we share our broad experiences on process equipment design, good handling practices and monitoring programmes with customers. Our engineering staff currently advice on how to set up production facilities, which will not jeopardize the dry, granulated products or generate aerosols. We perform training programmes and supply training material. Specific methods for determining airborne enzymes have been developed and in case of suspected enzyme allergy we have access to specially developed methods for analysing blood samples.
All together the services provided by Novozymes on safe handling of enzymes are aiming at actively sharing better practices with our customers and we see it as an important part of supplying high quality products.