Effects on Eyes and Nose in Humans after Experimental Exposure to Airborne Office Dust

Abstract

To test sensory irritation symptoms and physiological effects on humans caused by airborne office dust, ten subjects were exposed to both clean air and airborne non-industrial office dust for 3 h in a climate chamber. The average dust concentration in exposure sessions was 394 micrograms/m3 total suspended dust (TSD). Tear film break-up time, foam formation in the eye canthus, conjunctival epithelial damage, nasal volume, and nasal minimal cross-sectional area were assessed. Tear film break-up time decreased significantly after dust exposure and nasal volume showed a tendency to decrease. In a questionnaire investigation, significant effects were found from the questions: "facial skin humidity", "throat irritation", "feeling needs of coughing", "dry nose", "concentration difficulty", and "headache". Additionally, the intensity of the questions "facial skin humidity", "dry nose", "body skin temperature", "sluggishness", and "sleepiness" worsened over time. A correlation analysis showed that perceived "air quality" was significantly correlated with "dry eyes", "eye irritation", "facial skin irritation", "nose irritation", and "feeling stressed by chamber occupancy" for subacute responses, and with "odor intensity" for acute responses. This supports that the perceived air quality may be a function of odor and irritation symptoms. A number of localized symptoms of irritation (e.g. dry nose, throat irritation, coughing) and of general symptoms (e.g. sluggishness, sleepiness, headache, ability to concentration) were mutually correlated acutely and subacutely. These results indicate that non-industrial office dust may cause physiological changes and sensory symptoms in eyes and nose and that these effects have different time courses.

Variability of personal chemical exposure in eight office buildings in Sweden

“…The possible health effects of particles are not clear. Two experimental exposure studies of particles in offices have been published by researchers in the same department (Hauschildt et al, 1999;Pan et al, 2000). Hauschildt concludes that ''dust does not seem to have any objective or subjective effects on humans'', while Pan found that particles affected tear film break-up time and caused subjective effects among the participants.…”

Health Effects of Airborne Dust and Particulate Matter Indoors: A Review of Three Climate Chamber Studies

“…It has been found that perceived indoor air quality and general well-being is strongly correlated to both irritation and odor (Hudnell et al, 1993;Mølhave et al, 1986;Otto et al, 1990;Pan et al, 1999Pan et al, , 2000. Therefore, general evaluations such as perceived IAQ, general well-being, and a need for more ventilation are also included in this summary.…”

Eye irritation and environmental factors in the office environment-hypotheses, causes and a physiological model

“…] The results from human exposure studies in climate chambers with exposure to airborne dust from office floors in concentrations of about 400 µg/m 3 have been inconclusive about eye irritation (171,172). Surfactants in vacuumed office floor dust, like fatty acid salts, and linear alkylbenzene sulfonates used in detergents, have been measured in amounts up to about 0.5% each (173,174).…”