| Title: | Chemosensory irritations and pulmonary effects of acute exposure to emissions from oriented strand board |
| Author(s): | Gminski R; Marutzky R; Kevekordes S; Fuhrmann F; Burger W; Hauschke D; Ebner W; Mersch-Sundermann V; |
| Address: | "Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. richard.gminski@uniklinik-freiburg.de" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1477-0903 (Electronic) 0960-3271 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Due to the reduction of air change rates in low-energy houses, the contribution to indoor air quality of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitting from oriented strand boards (OSB) has become increasingly important. The aim of this study was to evaluate sensory irritations, pulmonary effects and odor annoyance of emissions from OSB in healthy human volunteers compared to clean air. Twenty-four healthy non-smokers were exposed to clean air and OSB emissions for 2 h under controlled conditions in a 48 m(3) test chamber at three different time points: to fresh OSB panels and to the same panels after open storage for 2 and 8 weeks. Chemosensory irritation, exhaled nitric oxide (NO) concentration, eye blink frequency, lung function and subjective perception of irritation of eyes, nose and throat were examined before, during and after exposure. Additionally, olfactory perception was investigated. Total VOC exposure concentrations reached 8.9 +/- 0.8 mg/m(3) for the fresh OSB panels. Emissions consisted predominantly of alpha-pinene, Delta(3)-carene and hexanal. Two-hour exposure to high VOC concentrations revealed no irritating or pulmonary effects. All the subjective ratings of discomfort were at a low level and the medians did not exceed the expression 'hardly at all.' Only the ratings for smell of emissions increased significantly during exposure in comparison to clean air. In conclusion, exposure of healthy volunteers to OSB emissions did not elicit sensory irritations or pulmonary effects up to a VOC concentration of about 9 mg/m(3). Sensory intensity of OSB emissions in the chamber air was rated as 'neutral to pleasant.'" |
| Keywords: | "Adult Air Pollution, Indoor/*adverse effects/analysis Atmosphere Exposure Chambers Blinking Eye/drug effects Female Humans Inhalation Exposure/*adverse effects/analysis Irritants/chemistry/*toxicity Male Odorants Respiratory Function Tests Respiratory Sys;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineGminski, Richard Marutzky, Rainer Kevekordes, Sebastian Fuhrmann, Frank Burger, Werner Hauschke, Dieter Ebner, Winfried Mersch-Sundermann, Volker eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2010/11/13 Hum Exp Toxicol. 2011 Sep; 30(9):1204-21. doi: 10.1177/0960327110388537. Epub 2010 Nov 11" |
