title: No acute effects of an exposure to 50 ppm methyl methacrylate on the upper airways.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The German MAK value of methyl methacrylate has been fixed at 50 ppm. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible acute effects of an exposure to 50 ppm methyl methacrylate on the upper airways of human subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty healthy subjects were exposed to 50 ppm methyl methacrylate and to air (sham) in an exposure chamber for 4 h according to a crossover design. Symptoms were assessed by the SPES questionnaire. Olfactory thresholds for n-butanol and mucociliary transport time were measured before and after exposure. Concentrations of interleukin 1ß and interleukin 8 were determined in nasal secretions taken after exposure. mRNA levels of interleukins 1ß, 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 crossover analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The score of the item "irritation to the nose" was slightly elevated following exposure to methyl methacrylate (p ≤ 0.01). Olfactory functioning was not impaired. Mucociliary transport time did not change. Neither concentrations of interleukins in nasal secretions nor mRNA levels were elevated.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Only minor irritating effects on the nose were observed. The acute exposure to 50 ppm methyl methacrylate did not cause any adverse effects. However, the results cannot be extrapolated to chronic exposure.
authors: Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher Straße 67, 55131, Mainz, Germany. amuttray@uni-mainz.de.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Muttray
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Gosepath
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Brieger
authors: Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany. Andreas.Faldum@ukmuenster.de.|Institute of Biostatistics and Clinical Research, Westfälische Wilhelms-University Münster, Schmeddingstr. 56, 48149, Münster, Germany. Andreas.Faldum@ukmuenster.de.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Faldum
authors: Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher Straße 67, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Zagar
authors: Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher Straße 67, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
authors: O
authors: O
authors: Mayer-Popken
authors: Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher Straße 67, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Jung
authors: Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher Straße 67, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Roßbach
authors: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Mann
authors: Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher Straße 67, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Letzel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005858:Germany; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D020366:Methylmethacrylate / Q000633:toxicity*; D009079:Mucociliary Clearance; D065588:Nasal Absorption; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D019055:No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level; D055696:Olfactory Perception / Q000187:drug effects*; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020366:Methylmethacrylate; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
keywords: Inflammation; Inhalation; Methyl methacrylate; Mucociliary transport; Olfactory threshold; Upper airways