Title
Local effects in the respiratory tract: Relevance of subjectively measured irritation for setting occupational exposure limits
Author
Arts, J.H.E.
de Heer, C.
Woutersen, R.A.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven TNO Voeding
Publication year
2006
Abstract
Objectives: Chemosensory effects of stimulation by a chemical can either be irritating (trigeminal stimulation) or odorous (olfactory stimulation) or both. For odorous irritants, a clear-cut distinction between odour and irritation is difficult to make. The differences in the lowest concentration found to be irritating to the respiratory tract in humans when compared to experimental animals has brought much debate in the process of setting occupational exposure limits (OELs) for such chemicals. In this paper it will be discussed as to how far subjectively measured sensory irritation threshold levels can be used to establish OELs. Methods: Data on respiratory irritation of four odorous irritants were retrieved from public literature and discussed, viz. acetone, formaldehyde, furfural and sulphur dioxide. Results: Objective measures of irritation yielded results that differed from subjective evaluations. Important factors modulating the reported levels of irritation and health symptoms include the perception of odour intensity, exposure history and the individual's bias to report irritation on the basis of his/her prejudice or knowledge of the compound. Conclusions: Subjective measures alone are less appropriate for establishing sensory irritation thresholds of odorous irritants and are, therefore, less suitable to establish OELs without supporting evidence. Objectively measured irritation in humans, the Alarie assay (an experimental animal test assessing the concentration that results in a 50% reduction of the breathing frequency) and repeated exposure studies in animals may be of help to study objective irritation. If subjective measurements are used to study sensory irritation, the study design should at least include: Measurement of both incidence and severity determined at several concentrations, an appropriate (0 ppm) control condition, preferably a non-irritant odorant control exposure, validated questionnaires and correct concentration measurements. © Springer-Verlag 2005.
Subject
Biology
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
Chemosensory effects
Odorous irritants
Olfactory stimulation
Respiratory tract
Acetone
Formaldehyde
Furfural
Sulfur dioxide
Animal experiment
Animal tissue
Breathing rate
Concentration response
Controlled study
Disease severity
Incidence
Information retrieval
Medical literature
Nonhuman
Nose irritation
Perceptive threshold
Questionnaire
Respiratory tract disease
Review
Validation process
Voluntary reporting
Air Pollutants, Occupational
Animals
Humans
Irritants
Occupational Diseases
Occupational Exposure
Odors
Respiratory System
Smell
Threshold Limit Values
Animalia
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http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:106fea68-faae-4a9d-9405-ceae849ae0af
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-005-0044-9
TNO identifier
239240
ISSN
0340-0131
Source
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 79 (4), 283-298
Document type
article