Acute effects of some volatile organic compounds emitted from water-based paints.
OBJECTIVE
Acute effects during controlled exposure to some of the volatile organic compounds emitted from water-based paints were evaluated.


METHODS
Healthy volunteers (10 atopics, 10 nonatopics, and 10 painters) were exposed to a mixture of propyleneglycol, texanol, diethyleneglycol monoethylether, diethyleneglycol monobutyl ether, and dipropyleneglycol monomethyl ether at a total concentration of 35 mg/m3 (G), a mixture of G and ammonia (15 mg/m3) (GA), and clean air (C).


RESULTS
Subjective ratings of irritation in eyes, nose, throat, and dyspnea were significantly higher during the G and GA conditions, when compared with during the C condition. Nasal mucosal swelling was observed after G but not after GA exposure. No effects of the exposure on the pulmonary function, markers of inflammation in nasal lavages, and renal function in urine were seen.


CONCLUSIONS
Exposure to G and GA caused mild irritation in eyes, nose, and airways.
Ernstgård
Lena
L
Work Environment Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. Lena.Ernstgard@ki.se
Löf
Agneta
A
Wieslander
Gunilla
G
Norbäck
Dan
D
Johanson
Gunnar
G
D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007509:Irritants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D010150:Paint / Q000633:toxicity*; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D012997:Solvents / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D014835:Volatilization
D007509:Irritants; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D012997:Solvents