title: Assessment of the risk of respiratory sensitization from fragrance allergens released by air fresheners.
abstract: Consumers using air fresheners are exposed to the emitted ingredients, including fragrances, via the respiratory tract. Several fragrances are known skin sensitizers, but it is unknown whether inhalation exposure to these chemicals can induce respiratory sensitization. Effects on the immune system were assessed by testing a selection of five fragrance allergens in the respiratory local lymph node assay (LLNA). The probability and extent of exposure were assessed by measuring concentrations of the 24 known fragrance allergens in 109 air fresheners. It was shown that the most frequently used fragrances in air fresheners were D-limonene and linalool. In the respiratory LLNA, these fragrances were negative. Of the other tested chemicals, only isoeugenol induced a statistically significant increase in cell proliferation. Consumer exposure was assessed in more detail for D-limonene, linalool, and isoeugenol by using exposure modeling tools. It was shown that the most frequently used fragrances in air fresheners, D-limonene, and linalool gave rise to a higher consumer exposure compared with isoeugenol. To evaluate whether the consumer exposure to these fragrances is low or high, these levels were compared with measured air concentrations of diisocyanates, known human respiratory sensitizers. This comparison showed that consumer exposure from air fresheners to D-limonene, linalool, and isoeugenol is considerably lower than occupational exposure to diisocyanates. By combing this knowledge on sensitizing potency with the much lower exposure compared to diisocyanates it seems highly unlikely that isoeugenol can induce respiratory sensitization in consumers using air fresheners.
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Public Health and the Environment , Bilthoven , The Netherlands .
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: ter Burg
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bouma
authors.forename: Durk J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Schakel
authors.forename: Susan W P
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Wijnhoven
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van Engelen
authors.forename: Henk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: van Loveren
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ezendam
mesh_terms: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D053138:Cyclohexenes / Q000633:toxicity; D005054:Eugenol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000633:toxicity; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D000077222:Limonene; D023441:Local Lymph Node Assay; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D039821:Monoterpenes / Q000633:toxicity; D010476:Perfume / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000139:chemically induced*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013729:Terpenes / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens; D053138:Cyclohexenes; D039821:Monoterpenes; D010476:Perfume; D013729:Terpenes; D005054:Eugenol; C036643:isoeugenol; D000077222:Limonene; C018584:linalool