No acute effects of an exposure to 50 ppm acetaldehyde on the upper airways.
OBJECTIVE
German MAK value of acetaldehyde has been fixed at 50 ppm to prevent from irritating effects. The threshold value is mainly based on animal experiments. The aim of this study was to evaluate acute effects of an exposure to 50 ppm acetaldehyde on the upper airways of human subjects.


METHODS
Twenty subjects were exposed to 50 ppm acetaldehyde and to air in an exposure chamber for 4 h according to a crossover design. Subjective symptoms were assessed by questionnaire. Olfactory threshold for n-butanol and mucociliary transport time were measured before and after exposure. Concentrations of interleukin 1beta and interleukin 8 were determined in nasal secretions taken after exposure. mRNA levels of interleukins 1beta, 6 and 8, tumour necrosis factor alpha, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, monocyte chemotactic protein 1, and cyclooxygenases 1 and 2 were measured in nasal epithelial cells, gained after exposure. Possible effects were investigated by semiparametric and parametric crossover analyses.


RESULTS
Exposure to acetaldehyde did not cause any subjective irritating symptoms. Olfactory threshold did not change. Mucociliary transport time increased insignificantly after exposure to acetaldehyde. Neither concentrations of interleukins in nasal secretions nor mRNA levels of inflammatory factors were higher after exposure to acetaldehyde.


CONCLUSIONS
An acute exposure to 50 ppm acetaldehyde did not cause any adverse effects in test subjects.
Muttray
A
A
Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany. amuttray@uni-mainz.de
Gosepath
J
J
Brieger
J
J
Faldum
A
A
Pribisz
A
A
Mayer-Popken
O
O
Jung
D
D
Rossbach
B
B
Mann
W
W
Letzel
S
S
D000079:Acetaldehyde / Q000633:toxicity*; D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1 / Q000032:analysis; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000187:drug effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D020711:Threshold Limit Values; D055815:Young Adult
D007378:Interleukins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D000079:Acetaldehyde