title: Intranasal effects in chemically sensitive volunteers: an experimental exposure study.
abstract: During inhalational exposure to irritants stimulation of the trigeminal nerve endings in the nasal mucosa or other biochemical mechanisms might initiate inflammatory processes. Increased sensitivity of this physiological system in response to chemical stimulation is postulated in subjects reporting chemical intolerance. In the present study 12 subjects reporting chemical sensitivity and 12 controls were exposed to different concentrations of the industrial solvents ethyl benzene and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). Concentrations of various inflammatory biomarkers, namely eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin 1β (IL-lβ), substance P (SP), and neurokinin A (NKA) were measured in nasal secretion after exposures. Before, during, and after the exposures subjects rated the severity of nasal irritations. The biomarker concentrations and reported irritations were not affected by the exposures. Regardless of substance and concentration sensitive subjects reported more nasal irritations. In conclusion, the investigated substances might possess weaker potency to elicit intranasal irritative effects than postulated.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Institut für Arbeitsphysiologie an der Universität Dortmund, Ardeystrasse 67, D-44139 Dortmund, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van Thriel
authors.forename: Gerhard A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Wiesmüller
authors.forename: Meinolf
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blaszkewicz
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Golka
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kiesswetter
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seeber
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bachert