Exposure assessment of allergenic enzymes in workplaces

To quantify inhalable enzyme exposure either enzyme activity or immunoassay s can be used. Superior specificity and sensitivity make immunological proc edures, especially two-sited immunoassays the method of choice for allergen quantification. In the following, two immunoassays for quantification of a -amylase from Aspergillus oryzae and xylanolytic enzymes from Aspergillus n iger are presented. The first assay is based on monoclonal antibodies direc ted to a single protein, the second uses polyclonal antibodies to a mixture of enzymes. The methods for development of these assays and results of ana lysing flours and baking additives and dust samples of four bakeries and si x flour mills are shown.