title: Acute effects of 1,1,1-trichloroethane on human olfactory functioning.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational, Environmental, and Social Medicine, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muttray
authors.forename: Bertram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moll
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faas
authors.forename: Ludger
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Klimek
authors.forename: Wolf
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Konietzko
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D014240:Trichloroethanes