[The bronchial response to inhaled formaldehyde].
BACKGROUND
Formaldehyde is an ubiquitous indoor chemical polutant. Occupational exposure to high concentrations has revealed its irritant and allergenic potential. Nevertheless, domestic exposure to low concentrations may also have an effect on respiratory health in a non-specific way, just as has been found for other pollutants.


BACKGROUND
Potentiation of the response to allergens has been observed in animals and children. This effect has also been found on respiratory symptoms, with a 39% increase in the risk of asthma for a domiciliary exposure of more than 60 microgrammes.m(-3). We have recently been able to show, in a study with asthmatics sensitised to house dust mite, that the response to allergen provocation was increased following a 30 minutes exposure to 100 microgrammes.m(-3) formaldehyde.


CONCLUSIONS
All the data show that mild exposure to formaldehyde in the home is sufficient to provoke sensitisation and also an aggrevation of symptoms in patients with allergic asthma. Taking into account the published evidence it is advisable that the concentrations of formaldehyde in domestic products should be made known in order to improve domiciliary air quality.
Casset
A
A
Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Lyautey, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, France.
Purohit
A
A
Marchand
C
C
Le Calvé
S
S
Donnay
C
C
Uring-Lambert
B
B
Bahram
S
S
Pauli
G
G
de Blay
F
F
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001980:Bronchi / Q000187:drug effects; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology
D000485:Allergens; D005557:Formaldehyde