Physiological and psychological approaches to chemosensory effects of solvents.
Workplace related standard settings for solvents are based in a remarkable extent on information about sensory irritations. However, data from controlled human exposure studies are seldom available. Therefore, the aim of this study was to present the association of self-reported symptoms and physiological processes leading to sensory irritations. Three series of laboratory experiments each with 24 young male subjects were performed. Ethyl benzene (EB), 2-butanone (methyl ethyl ketone or MEK), isopropyl alcohol (IPA), 1-octanol (OCT), and 2-ethylhexanol (EHEX) were investigated in low and high concentrations. Ratings for sensory irritations (eyes and nose), olfactory symptoms, and annoyance were assessed repeatedly before, during and after the 4-h-exposures. The anterior active rhinomanometry (AAR) was employed measuring the nasal flow. The nasal lavage was used for the analysis of the neuropeptide substance P as indicator of nasal chemosensory irritations. Goodness-of-fit was calculated for non-linear regression analyses by fitting the sine function on the data of the ratings given during the 4-h-exposure. In general, ratings for annoyance and odor symptoms were fitted on a higher level than those for sensory irritations. However, a high fit could be shown for nasal irritations due to EHEX. In these experiments, a significant reduction of the nasal flow and a significant increase of substance P could be proved.
van Thriel
C
C
Institut für Arbeitsphysiologie, Universität Dortmund, Leibniz Research Center for Working Environment and Human Factors, Ardeystr. 67, D-44139, Dortmund, Germany. thriel@ifado.de
Seeber
A
A
Kiesswetter
E
E
Blaszkewicz
M
M
Golka
K
K
Wiesmüller
G A
GA
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D001273:Atmosphere Exposure Chambers; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D025363:Rhinomanometry; D012997:Solvents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
D012997:Solvents