Risk and safety requirements for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in allergology : World Allergy Organization Statement

Peer reviewe

Occupational health hazards of street cleaners – a literature review considering prevention practices at the workplace

Street cleaning is an integral part of the solid waste management system. There are different ways to achieve clean streets depending on the availability of equipment, the type and magnitude of dirt, the surface conditions encountered or traffic conditions. In general, hand sweeping by an individual worker or a group, hose flushing, or machine sweeping or flushing are applied. In order to obtain information about the occurrence and relevance of occupational health hazards of street cleaners, the current international literature, as well as corresponding German regulations, were reviewed and evaluated. Street cleaning includes a variety of health hazards for employees. These can be subdivided into effects of occupational tasks and effects of working conditions such as weather or road traffic. The hazards result from physical, chemical and biological exposures, but may also be due to physiological and psychological burden or inadequate safety aspects. The most commonly reported work-related complaints are musculoskeletal and respiratory disorders, cuts, slips, and road traffic accidents. In developing countries, street cleaners seem to be still heavily exposed to dust and, in most cases, no suitable protective measures are available. Especially in industrialized countries there exist a number of standards and recommendations for waste workers that aim to reduce their occupational health impacts

Trypsin und Chymotrypsin : MAK Value Documentation in German language, 2016

Trypsin (EC 3.4.21.4) and Chymotrypsin (EC 3.4.21.1) are proteolytic pancreatic enzymes which are secreted as inactive precursors trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen, respectively. They have several clinical pharmacological as well as laboratory applications and they are used in protein chemistry, especially in the preparation of insulin. Exposure to enzyme dusts has long been known to cause occupational immediate hypersensitivities of the airways. Also trypsin and chymotrypsin are potential inhalable sensitizers; cases of specific airway sensitization caused by trypsin and chymotrypsin containing products could be shown clearly by several studies. Positive skin prick and challenge tests as well as specific IgE antibodies have been described. Since these results and the clinical symptoms usually matched well, an immunological mechanism of action is suggested. There is no clear evidence of allergic cell‐mediated late type eczematous skin reactions. Trypsin and chymotrypsin are designated with “Sa” (for substances causing airway sensitization) but not with “Sh” (for skin‐sensitizing substances)

Trypsin and Chymotrypsin : MAK Value Documentation, 2016

Trypsin (EC 3.4.21.4) and Chymotrypsin (EC 3.4.21.1) are proteolytic pancreatic enzymes which are secreted as inactive precursors trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen, respectively. They have several clinical pharmacological as well as laboratory applications and they are used in protein chemistry, especially in the preparation of insulin. Exposure to enzyme dusts has long been known to cause occupational immediate hypersensitivities of the airways. Also trypsin and chymotrypsin are potential inhalable sensitizers; cases of specific airway sensitization caused by trypsin and chymotrypsin containing products could be shown clearly by several studies. Positive skin prick and challenge tests as well as specific IgE antibodies have been described. Since these results and the clinical symptoms usually matched well, an immunological mechanism of action is suggested. There is no clear evidence of allergic cell‐mediated late type eczematous skin reactions. Trypsin and chymotrypsin are designated with “Sa” (for substances causing airway sensitization) but not with “Sh” (for skin‐sensitizing substances)