Acute response to 3. 0 ppm formaldehyde in exercising healthy nonsmokers and asthmatics

Journal Article · Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987 · Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1164/arrd.1987.135.6.1261· OSTI ID:6470523

Green, D J; Sauder, L R; Kulle, T J; Bascom, R

Formaldehyde is an ubiquitous industrial and indoor air pollutant to which millions are daily exposed. Because of the paucity of scientific data concerning the inhalation toxicity of this compound in humans, we determined the symptoms and alterations in pulmonary function resulting from inhalation for 1 h of 3 parts per million formaldehyde in a controlled environmental chamber. The protocol consisted of randomized exposure of each subject to clean air or 3.0 ppm HCHO on 2 separate days. Twenty-two healthy normal subjects engaged in intermittent heavy exercise (VE = 65 L/min) and 16 asthmatic subjects performed intermittent moderate exercise (VE = 37 L/min). Symptoms and pulmonary function were assessed during the time course of exposure; nonspecific airway reactivity was assessed after exposure. Both groups exhibited similar, significant (p less than 0.01) increases in perceived odor, nose/throat irritation, and eye irritation throughout the exposure. The normal group had the following statistically significant (p less than 0.02) lower pulmonary functions after 55 min of exposure to formaldehyde as compared to clean air: 3.8% in FEV1, 2.6% in FVC, and 2.8% in FEV3. The asthmatic group showed no statistically significant decrements in pulmonary function. Five of 38 subjects studied had decrements in FEV1 greater than 10%. In conclusion, acute exposure to 3 ppm HCHO produced: consistent irritant symptoms in both normal and asthmatic subjects, small decreases in pulmonary function in normal subjects engaging in heavy exercise, and clinically significant responses (defined here as decrements in FEU1 greater than 10) in 13% of the study population.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore
• OSTI ID: 6470523
• Journal Information: Am. Rev. Respir. Dis.; (United States), Vol. 6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
FORMALDEHYDE
TOXICITY
LUNGS
DYNAMIC FUNCTION STUDIES
ACUTE EXPOSURE
AIR POLLUTION
ASTHMA
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
EXERCISE
EXPOSURE CHAMBERS
INHALATION
SYMPTOMS
ALDEHYDES
BODY
DISEASES
INTAKE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
POLLUTION
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology