title: Relationship between selected indoor volatile organic compounds, so-called microbial VOC, and the prevalence of mucous membrane symptoms in single family homes.
abstract: Microorganisms are known to produce a range of volatile organic compounds, so-called microbial VOC (MVOC). Chamber studies where humans were exposed to MVOC addressed the acute effects of objective and/or subjective signs of mucosal irritation. However, the effect of MVOC on inhabitants due to household exposure is still unclear. The purpose of this epidemiological study was to measure indoor MVOC levels in single family homes and to evaluate the relationship between exposure to them and sick building syndrome (SBS). All inhabitants of the dwellings were given a self-administered questionnaire with standardized questions to assess their symptoms. Air samples were collected and the concentrations of eight selected compounds in indoor air were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry - selective ion monitoring mode (GC/MS-SIM). The most frequently detected MVOC was 1-pentanol at a detection rate of 78.6% and geometric mean of 0.60 microg/m(3). Among 620 participants, 120 (19.4%) reported one or more mucous symptoms; irritation of the eyes, nose, airway, or coughing every week (weekly symptoms), and 30 (4.8%) reported that the symptoms were home-related (home-related symptoms). Weekly symptoms were not associated with any of MVOC, whereas significant associations between home-related mucous symptoms and 1-octen-3-ol (per log(10)-unit: odds ratio (OR) 5.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.1 to 14.8) and 2-pentanol (per log(10)-unit: OR 2.3, 95% CI: 1.0 to 4.9) were obtained after adjustment for gender, age, and smoking. Associations between home-related symptoms and 1-octen-3-ol remained after mutual adjustment. However, concentrations of the selected compounds in indoors were lower than the estimated safety level in animal studies. Thus, the statistically significant association between 1-octen-3-ol may be due to a direct effect of the compounds or the associations may be being associated with other offending compounds. Additional studies are needed to evaluate these possibilities.
authors.affiliation: Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, Kita 15, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8638, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsuko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Araki
authors.forename: Toshio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.forename: Yoko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Eitaki
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
authors.forename: Kanehisa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Tomoko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takigawa
authors.forename: Takesumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chikara
authors.forename: Yasuaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saijo
authors.forename: Reiko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kishi
mesh_terms: D000391:Air Microbiology; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds