title: Fragrance materials in asthma: a pilot study using a surrogate aerosol product.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many household products contain fragrances. Little is known about exposure to fragrances on human health, particularly within the airways. This study aimed to evaluate how common household fragrance products (i.e. air fresheners, cleaning products) affect people with asthma, who frequently report sensitivity to these products. Many of these products have volatile organic compounds or semi-volatile organic compounds. This study evaluated nine fragrance materials in an aerosol formulation to assess effects on airway physiology, airway inflammation and symptom perception in normal controls and those with asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effects of fragrances were evaluated in people without asthma, people with mild asthma and people with moderate asthma in a four-way crossover placebo-controlled study. Subjects were exposed twice to a fragranced aerosol and twice to a placebo aerosol (15 and 30 min each). Subjects completed a questionnaire for 29 symptoms during and up to 3 h after each exposure scenario. Spirometry was performed prior to and 3 h post-exposure; sputum induction was conducted 3 h post-exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nasal symptoms showed the greatest frequency of response in all three subject groups, and moderate asthmatics reported the greatest symptom severity and symptom types. No significant differences were noted in physiology or cellular inflammation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A trend for increased symptoms was noted in moderate asthmatics, suggesting that asthma severity may play a factor in fragrance sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Alberta , Canada .
authors.forename: Dilini
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vethanayagam
authors.forename: Harissios
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vliagoftis
authors.forename: Dennell
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mah
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beach
authors.forename: Ladd
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Redwan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moqbel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols / Q000009:adverse effects; D000368:Aged; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006795:Household Products / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010476:Perfume / Q000009:adverse effects; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013147:Spirometry; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D010476:Perfume