Skip to main content

Changes of pressure and humidity affect olfactory function

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology volume 265, pages 299–302 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

The present study aimed at investigating the question whether olfactory function changes in relation to barometric pressure and humidity. Using climate chambers, odor threshold and discrimination for butanol were tested in 75 healthy volunteers under hypobaric and hyperbaric, and different humidity conditions. Among other effects, olfactory sensitivity at threshold level, but not suprathreshold odor discrimination, was impaired in a hypobaric compared to a hyperbaric milieu, and thresholds were lower in humid, compared to relatively dry conditions. In conclusion, environmental conditions modulate the sense of smell, and may, consecutively, influence results from olfactory tests.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1

References

  1. Bert P (1878) La pression barométrique: recherches de physiologie expérimentale, Masson, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ehrenstein WH, Ehrenstein A (1999) Psychophysical methods. In: Windhorst U, Johansson H (eds) Modern techniques in neuroscience research. Springer, Heidelberg, pp 1211–1241

    Google Scholar 

  3. Fleisch A, Von Murant A (1944) Klimaphysiologische Untersuchungen in der Schweiz Teil I. Benno Schwabe & Co., Basel

    Google Scholar 

  4. Fowler B, Grant A (2000) Hearing thresholds acute hypoxia and relationship to slowing in the auditory modality. Aviat Space Environ Med 71:946–949

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hummel T, Sekinger B, Wolf S, Pauli E, Kobal G (1997) “Sniffin’ Sticks”: olfactory performance assessed by the combined testing of odor identification, odor discrimination and olfactory threshold. Chem Senses 22:39–52

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Kobal G, Klimek L, Wolfensberger M, Gudziol H, Temmel A, Owen CM, Seeber H, Pauli E, Hummel T (2000) Multicenter investigation of 1,036 subjects using a standardized method for the assessment of olfactory function combining tests of odor identification, odor discrimination, and olfactory thresholds. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 257:205–211

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Kobrick J (1983) Effects of hypoxia on the luminance threshold for target detection. Avia Space Environ Med 53:112–115

    Google Scholar 

  8. McAnally KI, Watson B, Martin RL, Singh B (2005) Effect of hypobaric hypoxia on auditory sensity. Aviat Space Environ Med 74:1251–1255

    Google Scholar 

  9. Pavlicek V, Schirlo C, Nebel A, Regard M, Koller EA, Brugger P (2005) Cognitive and emotional processing at high altitude. Aviat Space Environ Med 76:28–33

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Philpott C, Goodenough P, Passant C, Robertson A, Murty G (2004) The effect of temperature, humidity and peak inspiratory nasal flow on olfactory thresholds. Clin Otolaryngol 29:24–31

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Reitan RM (1958) Validity of the trail-making-test. Percept Mot Skills 8:271–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Stepanek J (2002) Influence of hypobaric hypoxia on the human sense of smell. Thesis (Master of Public Health). The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Galveston

  13. Virues-Ortega J, Buela-Casal G, Garrido E, Alcazar B (2004) Neuropsychological functioning associated with high-altitude exposure. Neuropsychol Rev 14:197–224

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Watson DB, Martin RL, McAnally KI, Smith SE, Emonson DL (2000) Effect of normobaric hypoxia on auditory sensitivity. Aviat Space Environ Med 64:30–36

    Google Scholar 

  15. Weissenborn K, Ruckert N, Hecker H, Manns MP (1998) The number connection tests A and B: interindividual variability and use for the assessment of early hepatic encephalopathy. J Hepatol 28:646

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. WMA (1997) World Medical Association: declaration of Helsinki. Recommendations guiding physicians in biomedical research involving human subjects. J Med Assoc 277:925–926

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by the German Air force (STAN-research project 08–04). We also would like to thank Dr. Briner and Prof. Hüttenbrink for very helpful discussions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division Aviation Physiology, German Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine, Königsbrück, Germany

    Michael Kuehn & Heiko Welsch

  2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Dresden Medical School, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    Thomas Zahnert

  3. Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Dresden Medical School, Fetscherstrasse 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    Thomas Hummel

Authors
  1. Michael Kuehn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Heiko Welsch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Thomas Zahnert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Thomas Hummel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Thomas Hummel.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kuehn, M., Welsch, H., Zahnert, T. et al. Changes of pressure and humidity affect olfactory function. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 265, 299–302 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-007-0446-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-007-0446-2

Keywords

  • Olfaction
  • Smell
  • Barometric pressure
  • Humidity
  • Environment