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Historical perspectives in occupational medicine. Allergic asthma to Bacillus subtilis enzyme: A model for the effects of inhalable proteins
Author(s) -
Pepys Jack
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700210414
Subject(s) - medicine , occupational asthma , asthma , bacillus subtilis , occupational medicine , occupational exposure , enzyme , allergy , environmental medicine , environmental health , family medicine , immunology , public health , pathology , biochemistry , bacteria , chemistry , biology , genetics
The passage of 24 years since the diagnosis of allergic asthma in heavily exposed workers and in a few consumers due to dusty enzyme preparations of Bacillus subtilis compounded with laundry powder makes it possible to review objectively the many problems it raised. It emphasizes the lessons to be learned, relevant to inhalable enzyme products and to other inhalable proteins in general. Occupational allergic respiratory diseases were little studied at the time and the enzyme problems stimulated interest in what has now become a well‐established and important field of medicine involving not only protein allergens but low molecular weight chemicals as well.