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Exposure of humans to a volatile organic mixture. 3. Inflammatory response

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:7110471
; ;
A set of symptoms has been described during the past two decades that has been called the sick building syndrome. These symptoms include eye, nose, and throat irritation; headache; mental fatigue; and respiratory distress. It is likely that the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in synthetic materials used in homes and office buildings contribute to these symptoms. However, there have been very few studies in which humans have been exposed to known amounts of VOCs under carefully controlled conditions. In the study, 14 subjects were exposed to a mixture of VOCs (25 mg/sq meter total hydrocarbon) that is representative of what is found in new homes and office buildings. Because irritations of the nose and throat are symptoms often associated with the upper respiratory tract and may result from an inflammatory response in the upper airways, the authors used nasal lavage to monitor neutrophil (PMN) influx into the nasal passages following exposure to VOCs. There were statistically significant increases in PMNs, both immediately after a 4-h exposure to VOCs and 18 h later.
Research Organization:
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States). Health Effects Research Lab.
OSTI ID:
7110471
Report Number(s):
PB-92-217223/XAB; EPA--600/J-92/281
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY AREAS
BODY FLUIDS
BUILDINGS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
FACE
HEAD
HOUSES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
INFLAMMATION
LEUKOCYTES
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
MATTER
NEUTROPHILS
NOSE
OFFICE BUILDINGS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PHARYNX
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SYMPTOMS
TRACHEA
VERTEBRATES
VOLATILE MATTER