Sensory irritation of select experimental photochemical oxidants

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1978.10667343· OSTI ID:6618731

Kane, L E; Alarie, Y

Groups of male Swiss-Webster mice were exposed to photochemical oxidant mixtures generated by reacting various hydrocarbons with nitrogen dioxide in the presence of ultraviolet light while their respiratory rates were monitored. The hydrocarbons used were 1,3-butadiene, 1-butene, cis-2-butene, ethylene, propylene, n-butane, and ethane. The initial hydrocarbon concentrations ranged from .4 to 18 ppM, with the initial nitrogen dioxide concentration being one-third that of the initial hydrocarbon concentration. New groups (four mice per group) were exposed for 5 min at 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 hr of ultraviolet irradiation. Dose-response curves for each hydrocarbon were developed by plotting the maximum percent decrease in respiratory rate observed during the 4 hr of irradiation of each mixture as a function of the initial hydrocarbon concentration present. The percent decrease in respiratory rate in mice was chosen as an index of the sensory irritation of the upper respiratory tract for each mixture. The results showed that the potency of the photochemical oxidant mixtures generated from the hydrocarbons to be propylene greater than 1,3,-butadiene = 1-butene=cis-2-butene greater than ethylene. When ethane or n-butane was used, no decrease in respiratory rate was observed. These results are compatible with the data obtained in human volunteer studies. Guidelines for relating the percent decrease in respiratory rate in mice to human reactions are presented.

• OSTI ID: 6618731
• Journal Information: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 33:5; ISSN AEHLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

552000 -- Public Health
560305* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Vertebrates-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
EXPOSURE CHAMBERS
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
MAMMALS
MAN
MICE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL OXIDANTS
PRIMATES
PUBLIC HEALTH
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIATIONS
RESPIRATION
RESPIRATORY TRACT CELLS
RODENTS
SENSITIVITY
TIME DEPENDENCE
ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
VERTEBRATES