Health-hazard evaluation report HETA 87-112-1922, E. S. I. Meats, Inc. , Bristol, Indiana

Technical Report · Mon Aug 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6080343

Galson, S K; Boiano, J M

In response to a request from three employees at E.S.I. Meats, Inc., Bristol, Indiana, an investigation was made of respiratory symptoms among workers exposed to meat tenderizers. The facility was a meat-portioning plant which used the proteolytic enzyme meat tenderizer papain as a component of spice mixtures sprayed on some steaks prior to packaging. Medical studies indicated that immunoglobulin-E mediated tenderizer related occupational asthma (TROA) occurred among the workers. The prevalence of possible or definite TROA among this workforce was at least 8% and the prevalence among tenderizer exposed workers was at least 12%. The prevalence among symptomatic workers was 58%. Immunologic sensitivity to tenderizer in the absence of reported symptoms, observed in 11 participants, may be a predictor of the development of asthma with continued exposure. The authors conclude that a hazard existed from occupational exposure to proteolytic enzyme meat tenderizers. The authors recommend that worker exposure to proteolytic enzymes be reduced as low as possible through better engineering controls. Appropriate respiratory protection should be used until effective engineering controls are in place. All skin contact with the spice solutions or meat treated with spice should be avoided.

• Research Organization: National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6080343
• Report Number(s): PB-89-139232/XAB; HETA-87-112-1922
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
552000 -- Public Health
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
AIR POLLUTION
ASTHMA
DISEASES
ENZYMES
FOOD INDUSTRY
FOOD PROCESSING
GLOBULINS
HYDROLASES
IMMUNOGLOBULINS
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
INDUSTRY
MATERIALS
MEAT INDUSTRY
MEDICINE
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PAPAIN
PEPTIDE HYDROLASES
POLLUTION
PROCESSING
PROTEINS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
SH-PROTEINASES
TOXIC MATERIALS
TOXICITY