Measured emissions from building materials (Part I, Nielsen et al., 1996), were evaluated for their sensory effects, odour and irritation, as well as for health effects. The procedures adopted are general. First, if established indoor air standards or guidelines are available, they are to be preferred for the evaluations. Second, if they are not available, odour and irritation thresholds are used. The occupational exposure limits may be used for the evaluation of health effects if applying an additional safety factor between 4 and 40. The actual value depends on the critical effect, but a safety factor of 40 is proposed as a first approximation. Other values must be justified. Third, if occupational exposure limits are not available, two different procedures provide a tentative standard or guideline on the basis of published literature, which of necessity must therefore be collected and evaluated. One procedure estimates the standard from an effect in animals and applies a number of safety factors (each often equal to 10), corresponding to a series of worst‐case assumptions. The other procedure evaluates the critical effect and uses fewer specific safety factors to predict the human no‐observed‐effect level (NOEL). The political safety factor is then determined, i.e. how far below the NOEL the standard or guideline level should be set. The last‐mentioned procedure gives a logical concordant system, explaining why different standards or guidelines may be set for outdoor, indoor and occupational exposures, and why exposures exceeding a standard or a guideline need not cause health effects.
Monthring of human reactions to the emission of fmmaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOC)from four commonly used building materials was carried out. % building materials were: a painted gvp sum board, a rubber floor, a nylon c w t , and a particle board with an acid-curing paint. % exposures
Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) have suggested the importance of hydrogen bonding in relation to activation of the sensory irritant receptor by nonreactive volatile organic chemicals. To investigate this possibility further, three model compounds with different hydrogen bond acidity, trifluoroethanol, hexafluoroisopropanol and methyl hexafluoroisopropyl ether, were selected for study. The potency of each chemical is obtained from the concentration necessary to reduce respiratory rate in mice by 50% (RD50). The RD50 values obtained were: methyl hexafluoroisopropyl ether (> or = 160,000 ppm), trifluoroethanol (11,400-23,300 ppm), and hexafluoroisopropanol (165 ppm). QSAR showed that trifluoroethanol and methyl hexafluoroisopropyl ether behaved as predicted as nonreactive sensory irritants, whereas hexafluoroisopropanol was much more potent than predicted. The higher than predicted potency of hexafluoroisopropanol could be due to a coupled reaction, involving both strong hydrogen bonding and weak Brönsted acidity. A concerted reaction could thus be more efficient in activation of the receptor. Hydrogen bonding properties and concerted reactions may be important in the activation of the sensory irritant receptor by nonreactive volatile organic chemicals.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether asthmatic reactions and changes in tear film quality could be prmohd by exposing subjects to missions from building materiuls in climate chambers. Twenty asthmatics and 5 healthy controls were exposed to (I) gypsum board hung with waterbonze painted wallpaper; (2) rubber floor covering; (3) n y h carpet with rubber mat; (4) particle board coated with acid-curing paint; and (5) m test materials in climate chambers for 6 h. Participants recorded symptoms by filling in questionnaires, and clinical data were evaluated by lung Fax No. + 45 35 45 75 49finction measurmts at intervals of 30 min to I h, and external eye examinutwns before and after exposure (appeaTance of foam at geld, smi-quantitative measuremmts of precorneal superjicial lipui h y q break-up time and epithelial damage). 7ha-e was agreement benueen a trained panel's evaluation of perceived air quality and the participants' opinion of in-dooT air quality. No correlation was found benueen lungfinction measurements and exposure to the materials. However, for all materials, statistically significant changes in tear film quality were observed to vay'ng a'egrees. Lipophilic E' olatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) may htabzlize the lipui mulhyer of the tear fluid, and this mechanism is suggested to be at least partly responsible for eye im'tation.
Evaluation of sensory and health effects from indoor air exposures is hampered by the limited number of specific indoor air standards and guidelines. It is proposed that the evaluations be based on three values for each compound, an odour threshold, a value set for prevention of irritation of eyes and nose (sensory irritation) while all other non‐genotoxic effects (including lung effects) are included in the category “health effects” and evaluated by means of a single value. Finally, it is also evaluated whether the substance is a genotoxic carcinogen. Indoor air guideline values are proposed for formic, acetic, propionic and butyric acid, based on published literature. For each substance the lowest of the proposed sensory irritation and health effect values was higher than, but otherwise in reasonable agreement with, established occupational exposure limits (OEL) multiplied by 1/40. This suggests that the OELs may play an important role in evaluations of the types of indoor air exposure effect mentioned.
Initation of the eyes and the upper respiratory tract (sensory irritation) in man due to the emission of vapours and gases from water‐based indoor paints has been estimated from their ability to decrease the respiratory rate in mice (ASTM: E981‐84, slightly modified). An acid‐curing lacquer, known to give rise to sensory irritation during occupational exposure, was used as the positive control. In the bioassay the and‐curing lacquer also gave rise to a pronounced sensory irritation, confirming that the ASTM method was applicable. Furthermore, the emission of formaldehyde, bases and acids was determined. The irritation within the first week was mainly due to the emission of organic solvents, but formaldehyde also played a role. Later the sensory irritation effect was caused mainly by the emission of formaldehyde. This indicates that the method revealed the different emission phases. None of the water‐based paints (3 latex wall paints, 1 silicate paint and 1 distemper) gave rise to a biologically significant irritation effect. Nor did the water‐based products emit formaldehyde or acids. However, varying degrees of emission of ammonia were observed. Taking into account the biological detection limits, no significant degree of sensory irritation can be expected in man 1‐2 weeks after indoor painting with the tested water‐based products.
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