Nasal effects of a mixture of volatile organic compounds and their ozone oxidation products.
OBJECTIVE
Our objective was to determine if low levels of a mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their ozone (O3) oxidation products, similar to what might be found in "sick buildings," cause nasal irritation and inflammation under controlled exposure conditions.


METHODS
Healthy, nonsmoking women (n=130) completed 2-hour controlled exposures to VOCs, VOCs and O3, and a masked air "MA" control in random order at least 1 week apart. VOCs and O3 concentrations were approximately 25 mg/m and approximately 40 ppb, respectively. Nasal symptoms were rated before, during, and after exposure. Nasal lavage fluid was analyzed for polymorphonuclear cells, total protein, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8.


RESULTS
We found no significant differences in symptoms or markers of nasal inflammation between exposure conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that VOCs and their oxidation products may not cause acute nasal effects at low concentrations.
Laumbach
Robert J
RJ
Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, USA. laumbach@eohsi.rutgers.edu
Fiedler
Nancy
N
Gardner
Carol R
CR
Laskin
Debra L
DL
Fan
Zhi-Hua
ZH
Zhang
Junfeng
J
Weschler
Charles J
CJ
Lioy
Paul J
PJ
Devlin
Robert B
RB
Ohman-Strickland
Pamela
P
Kelly-McNeil
Kathie
K
Kipen
Howard M
HM
D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017817:Nasal Lavage Fluid; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000737:chemistry; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010126:Ozone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D014835:Volatilization
D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical; D010126:Ozone