Exposure of humans to a volatile organic mixture. 1. Behavioral assessment

Technical Report · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:7278684

Otto, D A; Hudnell, H K; House, D E; Moelhave, L; Counts, W

Exposure to a low-level mixture of volatile organic compounds, typical of those found in new buildings, has been reported to impair neurobehavioral function in persons who have experienced sick building syndrome (SBS). Sixty-six healthy young males who had no history of chemical sensitivity were exposed for 2.75 h to a complex mixture of volatile organic compounds at 0 and 25 mg/cu m. Even though subjects reported more fatigue and more mental confusion following exposure to volatile organic compounds than to clean air, performance on 13 neurobehavioral tests was not affected. Practice or learning effects were observed if administration of many behavioral tests were repeated. Further studies are needed to clarify the relationship of exposure to volatile organic chemicals, neurobehavioral performance, and subject characteristics, e.g., age, gender, and chemical sensitivity.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC (United States). Health Effects Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 7278684
• Report Number(s): PB-92-189018/XAB; EPA-600/J-92/195
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Pub. in Archives of Environmental Health, v47 n1 p23-30 Jan 92. See also PB92-164888. Prepared in cooperation with Aarhus Univ. (Denmark). Inst. for Miljoe- og Arbejdsmedicin, and Northrop Services, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
BEHAVIOR
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
MAN
MIXTURES
VOLATILE MATTER
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
DISPERSIONS
HAZARDS
MAMMALS
MATTER
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology