Acute effects of 1,1,1-trichloroethane on human olfactory functioning.
BACKGROUND
Animal experiments indicate that 1,1,1-trichloroethane can cause degeneration of the olfactory epithelium. The effects of 1,1,1-trichloroethane on human odor perception still have not been investigated. The goal of this study was to learn more about acute effects of 1,1,1-trichloroethane.


METHODS
Twelve healthy, nonsmoking students were exposed to 200 and 20 ppm (control) 1,1,1-trichloroethane in an exposure chamber for 4 hours according to a crossover design. Olfactory functioning was investigated with the Sniffin' Sticks. The test includes the determination of the detection threshold for n-butanol and an odor identification test.


RESULTS
After 1 hour of exposure to 200 ppm 1,1,1-trichloroethane, no effects on olfactory functioning were observed. After 4 hours, the olfactory threshold for n-butanol was slightly (p = 0.04) elevated.


CONCLUSIONS
The threshold shift may be caused by different mechanisms, including inflammation of the olfactory mucosa or degeneration of receptor cells.
Muttray
Axel
A
Institute of Occupational, Environmental, and Social Medicine, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
Moll
Bertram
B
Faas
Michael
M
Klimek
Ludger
L
Mann
Wolf
W
Konietzko
Johannes
J
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects; D009832:Olfactory Nerve / Q000187:drug effects*; D010465:Perception; D011336:Probability; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014240:Trichloroethanes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014240:Trichloroethanes