| Title: | Molecular restrictions for human eye irritation by chemical vapors |
| Author(s): | Cometto-Muniz JE; Cain WS; Abraham MH; |
| Address: | "Chemosensory Perception Laboratory, Department of Surgery (Otolaryngology), 9500 Gilman Dr.-Mail Code 0957, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0957, USA. ecometto@ucsd.edu" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.taap.2005.02.004 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0041-008X (Print) 0041-008X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Previous research showed a cut-off along homologous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in their ability to produce acute human mucosal irritation. The present study sought to specify the particular cut-off homolog for sensory eye irritation in an acetate and n-alcohol series. A 1900-ml glass vessel system and a three-alternative forced-choice procedure served to test nonyl, decyl, and dodecyl acetate, and 1-nonanol, 1-decanol, and 1-undecanol. Flowrate to the eye ranged from 2 to 8 L/min and time of exposure from 3 to 24 s. Decyl acetate and 1-undecanol were the shortest homologs that failed to produce eye irritation under all conditions, producing a cut-off effect. Increasing the vapor concentration of decyl acetate and 1-undecanol by 3 and 8 times, respectively, via heating them to 37 degrees C made either or both VOCs detectable to only half of the 12 subjects tested, even though the higher vapor concentration was well above a predicted eye irritation threshold. When eye irritation thresholds for homologous acetates and n-alcohols were plotted as a function of the longest unfolded length of the molecule, the values for decyl acetate and 1-undecanol fell within a restricted range of 18 to 19 A. The outcome suggests that the basis for the cut-off is biological, that is, the molecule lacks a key size or structure to trigger transduction, rather than physical, that is, the vapor concentration is too low to precipitate detection" |
| Keywords: | Acetates/toxicity Adult Alcohols/toxicity Algorithms Esters/toxicity Eye Diseases/*chemically induced Female Humans Irritants/*toxicity Male Maximum Allowable Concentration Middle Aged Structure-Activity Relationship Temperature Toxicity Tests/*methods; |
| Notes: | "MedlineCometto-Muniz, J Enrique Cain, William S Abraham, Michael H eng R01 DC 005003/DC/NIDCD NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 2005/09/01 Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2005 Sep 15; 207(3):232-43. doi: 10.1016/j.taap.2005.02.004" |
