On Nov 23, 2009, we issued a response to two recent studies published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine. One found respiratory problems associated with detergent protease exposure in workers, while the other alleged that workers exposed to liquid detergent enzymes were at risk of developing sensitization and respiratory allergy.

The American Cleaning Institute and the cleaning product industry’s efforts to promote proper product stewardship can be seen in Risk Assessment Guidance for Enzyme-Containing Products (2005) and Work Practices for Handling Enzymes in the Detergent Industry (1995), both of which are available online at no cost at www.ACIScience.org.

Press Release

Detergent protease exposure and respiratory disease: case–referent analysis of a retrospective cohort. Occup. Environ. Med. 2009;66;754-758; originally published online 29 Jun 2009

A cross-sectional study among detergent workers exposed to liquid detergent enzymes, Occup. Environ. Med. 2009;66;759-765; originally published online 16 Aug 2009