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No acute effects of an exposure to 50 ppm acetaldehyde on the upper airways

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Abstract

Objective

German MAK value of acetaldehyde has been fixed at 50 ppm to prevent from irritating effects. The threshold value is mainly based on animal experiments. The aim of this study was to evaluate acute effects of an exposure to 50 ppm acetaldehyde on the upper airways of human subjects.

Methods

Twenty subjects were exposed to 50 ppm acetaldehyde and to air in an exposure chamber for 4 h according to a crossover design. Subjective symptoms were assessed by questionnaire. Olfactory threshold for n-butanol and mucociliary transport time were measured before and after exposure. Concentrations of interleukin 1β and interleukin 8 were determined in nasal secretions taken after exposure. mRNA levels of interleukins 1β, 6 and 8, tumour necrosis factor α, granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor, monocyte chemotactic protein 1, and cyclooxygenases 1 and 2 were measured in nasal epithelial cells, gained after exposure. Possible effects were investigated by semiparametric and parametric crossover analyses.

Results

Exposure to acetaldehyde did not cause any subjective irritating symptoms. Olfactory threshold did not change. Mucociliary transport time increased insignificantly after exposure to acetaldehyde. Neither concentrations of interleukins in nasal secretions nor mRNA levels of inflammatory factors were higher after exposure to acetaldehyde.

Conclusion

An acute exposure to 50 ppm acetaldehyde did not cause any adverse effects in test subjects.

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Acknowledgment

This study was supported by a grant from Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, GO-1022/1 and GO-1022/2).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany

    A. Muttray, A. Pribisz, O. Mayer-Popken, D. Jung, B. Roßbach & S. Letzel

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany

    J. Gosepath, J. Brieger & W. Mann

  3. Institute of Medical Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany

    A. Faldum

  4. Occupational Medicine, Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF), Mainz, Germany

    D. Jung

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  1. A. Muttray
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  2. J. Gosepath
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  5. A. Pribisz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Muttray.

Additional information

Data will be included in part in doctorial thesis of A. Pribisz.

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Muttray, A., Gosepath, J., Brieger, J. et al. No acute effects of an exposure to 50 ppm acetaldehyde on the upper airways. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 82, 481–488 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-008-0354-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-008-0354-9

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