title: Irritancy and allergic responses induced by exposure to the indoor air chemical 4-oxopentanal.
abstract: Over the last two decades, there has been an increasing awareness regarding the potential impact of indoor air pollution on human health. People working in an indoor environment often experience symptoms such as eye, nose, and throat irritation. Investigations into these complaints have ascribed the effects, in part, to compounds emitted from building materials, cleaning/consumer products, and indoor chemistry. One suspect indoor air contaminant that has been identified is the dicarbonyl 4-oxopentanal (4-OPA). 4-OPA is generated through the ozonolysis of squalene and several high-volume production compounds that are commonly found indoors. Following preliminary workplace sampling that identified the presence of 4-OPA, these studies examined the inflammatory and allergic responses to 4-OPA following both dermal and pulmonary exposure using a murine model. 4-OPA was tested in a combined local lymph node assay and identified to be an irritant and sensitizer. A Th1-mediated hypersensitivity response was supported by a positive response in the mouse ear swelling test. Pulmonary exposure to 4-OPA caused a significant elevation in nonspecific airway hyperreactivity, increased numbers of lung-associated lymphocytes and neutrophils, and increased interferon-γ production by lung-associated lymph nodes. These results suggest that both dermal and pulmonary exposure to 4-OPA may elicit irritant and allergic responses and may help to explain some of the adverse health effects associated with poor indoor air quality.
authors.affiliation: Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, USA. sanderson4@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Stacey E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Franko
authors.forename: Laurel G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: Jason E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ham
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Meade
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017453:Dermatitis, Irritant / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D007659:Ketones / Q000633:toxicity*; D023441:Local Lymph Node Assay; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D020556:Neutrophil Infiltration / Q000187:drug effects; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000276:immunology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D023422:Skin Irritancy Tests; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D017132:Workplace
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000447:Aldehydes; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007659:Ketones; C575062:4-oxopentanal