Formaldehyde dose-response in healthy nonsmokers

Journal Article · Sat Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1987 · J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/08940630.1987.10466285· OSTI ID:6066871

Kulle, T J; Sauder, L R; Hebel, J R; Green, D J; Chatham, M D

Industrial, commercial, and domestic levels of formaldehydes exposure range from <0.1 to >5.0 ppm. Irritation of the eyes and upper respiratory tract predominate, and bronchoconstriction is described in case reports. However, pulmonary function and irritant symptoms together have not been assessed over a range of HCHO concentrations in a controlled environment. The authors investigated dose response in both symptoms and pulmonary function associated with 3-h exposures to 0.0-3.0 ppm HCHO in a controlled environmental chamber. Ten subjects were randomly exposed to 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 ppm HCHO at rest plus 2.0 ppm HCHO with exercise and nine additional subjects were randomly exposed to 0.0, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 ppm HCHO at rest plus 2.0 ppm HCHO with exercise. Significant dose-response relationships in odor and eye irritation were observed (p < 0.05). Nasal flow resistance was increased at 3.0 ppm (p < 0.01), but not at 2.0 ppm HCHO. There were no significant decrements in pulmonary function (FVC, FEV/sub 1/, FEF/sub 25-75%/, SGaw) or increases in bronchial reactivity to methacholine (log PD/sub 35SGaw/) with exposure to 0.5-3.0 ppm HCHO at rest or to 2.0 ppm HCHO with exercise.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore
• DOE Contract Number: AS05-84ER60192
• OSTI ID: 6066871
• Journal Information: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc.; (United States) Vol. 37:8; ISSN JPCAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200 -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALDEHYDES
ANIMALS
ATMOSPHERES
BODY
BODY AREAS
CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
DYNAMIC FUNCTION STUDIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
EXERCISE
EYES
FACE
FORMALDEHYDE
HAZARDS
HEAD
HEALTH HAZARDS
LUNGS
MAMMALS
MAN
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PRIMATES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SENSE ORGANS
SYMPTOMS
VERTEBRATES