Dust entry

Fish-protein processing dust

Airborne fish-protein particulate and aerosol generated during fish cleaning, gutting, and processing, particularly around automated gutting equipment.

Airborne form

aerosol

The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.

Health effects

occupational asthma concernrespiratory sensitizationwheezing and breathlessness concernallergic respiratory symptoms

Evidence

The UK HSE review reports occupational asthma after exposure to aerosols from cleaning fish, including high prevalence in one automated-gutting study, and classifies fish protein as a respiratory sensitiser under its reviewed criteria.

Source: pdf ↗ · saved source
page 99 · C32: FISH PROTEINS — Summary and conclusion · 1

Exposure to aerosols generated during the cleaning of various species of fish has been shown to induce occupational asthma. Although only one study has included bronchial challenges, the quality of the remaining studies is sufficient to provide further good evidence. The prevalence when using automatic gutting machines was as high as 75% in one study.

Controls

enclose or isolate automated gutting and cleaning
use local exhaust ventilation
reduce aerosol generation at the source
maintain hygienic equipment and water systems
use appropriate respiratory protection where exposure assessment indicates it is needed