title: Acute effects of an exposure to 100 ppm 1-methoxypropanol-2 on the upper airways of human subjects.
abstract: The German MAK value of 1-methoxypropanol-2 has been fixed at 100 ppm. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible acute effects of an exposure to 100 ppm 1-methoxypropanol-2 on the upper airways of human subjects. Twenty subjects were exposed in a crossover design to 100 ppm 1-methoxypropanol-2 and to air in an exposure chamber for 4h. Subjective symptoms were assessed by questionnaire. Olfactory thresholds for n-butanol and mucociliary transport time were measured before and after exposure. Concentrations of interleukin 1β and interleukin 8 were determined in nasal secretions taken after exposure. mRNA levels of interleukins 1β, 6 and 8, tumor necrosis factor α, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, monocyte chemotactic protein 1, and cyclooxygenases 1 and 2 were measured in nasal epithelial cells, obtained after exposure. Possible effects were investigated by semiparametric and parametric cross-over analyses. Subjects did not have any subjective irritating symptoms. The olfactory threshold was slightly elevated following exposure to 1-methoxypropanol-2. Mucociliary transport time did not change. Neither concentrations of interleukins in nasal secretions nor mRNA levels except for interleukin 1β were higher after exposure to 1-methoxypropanol-2. In conclusion, the acute exposure to 100 ppm 1-methoxypropanol-2 did not cause clear-cut adverse effects in test subjects.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany. amuttray@uni-mainz.de
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muttray
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gosepath
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brieger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Faldum
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mayer-Popken
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Roßbach
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Letzel
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance / Q000187:drug effects; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D011409:Propylene Glycols; C005216:propylene glycol methyl ether