title: Acute effects of acrolein in human volunteers during controlled exposure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acrolein is a reactive aldehyde mainly formed by combustion. The critical effect is considered to be irritation of the eyes and airways; however, the scarce data available make it difficult to assess effect levels.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to determine thresholds for acute irritation for acrolein.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine healthy volunteers of each sex were exposed at six occasions for 2 h at rest to: clean air, 15 ppm ethyl acetate (EA), and 0.05 ppm and 0.1 ppm acrolein with and without EA (15 ppm) to mask the potential influence of odor. Symptoms related to irritation and central nervous system effects were rated on 100-mm Visual Analogue Scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ratings of eye irritation were slightly but significantly increased during exposure to acrolein in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.001, Friedman test) with a median rating of 8 mm (corresponding to "hardly at all") at the 0.1 ppm condition and with no influence from EA. No significant exposure-related effects were found for pulmonary function, or nasal swelling, nor for markers of inflammation and coagulation in blood (IL-6, C-reactive protein, serum amyloid A, fibrinogen, factor VIII, von Willebrand factor, and Clara cell protein) or induced sputum (cell count, differential cell count, IL-6 and IL-8). Blink frequency recorded by electromyography was increased during exposure to 0.1 ppm acrolein alone but not during any of the other five exposure conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on subjective ratings, the present study showed minor eye irritation by exposure to 0.1 ppm acrolein.
authors.affiliation: a Work Environment Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden and.
authors.forename: Aishwarya M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dwivedi
authors.affiliation: a Work Environment Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden and.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Johanson
authors.affiliation: a Work Environment Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden and.
authors.forename: Johnny C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lorentzen
authors.affiliation: b Lung and Airway Research, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Palmberg
authors.affiliation: a Work Environment Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden and.
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sjögren
authors.affiliation: a Work Environment Toxicology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden and.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ernstgård
mesh_terms: D000171:Acrolein / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D009812:Odorants; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013183:Sputum / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000171:Acrolein
keywords: Human exposure; indoor air; induced sputum; inflammation; irritation; smell; subjective ratings