- Original Article
- Published:
Sensory irritations and pulmonary effects in human volunteers following short-term exposure to pinewood emissions
Journal of Wood Science volume 57, pages 436–445 (2011)
Abstract
Pinewood (Pinus ssp.) is widely used for furniture and building purposes. However, despite its widespread use, information on possible human sensory irritations and pulmonary effects caused by exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted from pinewood is sparse. For this purpose, (1) sensory irritation of eyes, nose and throat, (2) lung function parameters (FVC, FEV1), (3) exhaled nitrogen oxide (NO) concentration, (4) eye blink frequency, and (5) sensory evaluation (using the SD method) were investigated before, after, and partly during exposure of human volunteers to emissions from pinewood panels. Fifteen healthy nonsmokers were exposed for 2 h under controlled conditions to VOCs emitted from pinewood panels in a 48 m3 test chamber. VOC concentrations were about 5 mg/ m3 (loading rate, 1 m2/m3), 8 mg/m3 (loading rate, 2 m2/m3), and 13 mg/m3 (loading rate, 3 m2/m3), respectively. Terpene and aldehyde exposure concentrations ranged from about 3.50 ± 0.51 mg/m3 and 0.07 ± 0.008 mg/m3, 5.00 ± 0.95 mg/ m3, and 0.20 ± 0.02 mg/m3 or 9.51 ± 1.10 mg/m3 and 0.21 ± 0.04 mg/m3 for loading rates of 1, 2, and 3 m2/m3, respectively. The emissions consisted predominantly of α-pinene and δ3-carene. No concentration-dependent effects before or after exposure to the emissions were measured with respect to sensory irritation, pulmonary function, exhaled NO, and eye blink frequency. Only the odor of the emissions was perceived by the study subjects, rated as being closer to “pleasant” than to “unpleasant.” In conclusion, the results of our study suggest that short-term exposure to high VOC concentrations, even up to 13 mg/m3, released from pinewood does not elicit sensory irritation or pulmonary effects in healthy humans under controlled conditions.
References
Doty RL, Cometto-Muniz JE, Jalowayski AA, Dalton P, Kendal-Reed M, Hodgson M (2004) Assessment of upper respiratory tract and ocular irritative effects of volatile chemicals in humans. Crit Rev Toxicol 34:85–142
Risholm-Sundman M, Herder P, Lundgren M, Vestin E (1998) Emissions of acetic acid and other volatile organic compounds from different species of solid wood. Holz Roh-Werkstoff 56:125–129
Baumann M, Battermann A, Zhang GZ (1999) Terpene emissions from particleboard and medium-density fiberboard products. For Prod J 49:49–56
Baumann M, Lorenz L, Batterman S, Zhang GZ (2000) Aldehyde emissions from particleboard and medium fiberboard products. For Prod J 50:75–82
Scholz H, Santl H (1999) Occurrence and assessment of selected volatile organic compounds (VOC) in indoor air. Proc Indoor Air 1:481–486
Ullrich D, Weiland SK, Seifert B (1999) VOC in homes of children with asthma: a case control study of indoor air quality. Proc Indoor Air 4:131–132
Schleibinger H, Hott U, Marchl, D, Braun P, Plieninger P, Rüden H (2001) VOC-Konzentrationen in Innenräumen des Großraums Berlin im Zeitraum von 1988–1999. Gefahrstoffe Reinhaltung Luft 61:26–38
Schreiner H, Wetzel H, Kirbach I (2001) Innenraumluftbelastung deutscher Kindergärten mit flüchtigen organischen Verbindungen (VOC). Umweltmedizin Forschung Praxis 6:143–149
Lux W, Mohr S, Heinzow B, Ostendorp G (2001) Belastung der Raumluft privater Neubauten mit flüchtigen organischen Verbindungen. Bundesgesundheitsblatt 44:619–624
Mersch-Sundermann V (2007) Gesundheitliche Bewertung von α-Pinen in der Innenraumluft: Aktueller Erkenntnisstand. Umweltmedizin Forschung Praxis 12:129–151
Hodgson AT, Rudd AF, Beal D, Chandra S (2000) Volatile organic compounds concentrations and emission rates in new manufactured and site-built houses. Indoor Air 10:178–192
Wolkoff P, Clausen PA, Wilkens CK, Nielsen GD (2000) Formation of strong airway irritants in terpene/ozone mixtures. Indoor Air 10:82–91
Rehwagen M, Schlink U, Herbarth O (2003) Seasonal cycle of VOCs in apartments. Indoor Air 13:283–291
Bodin L, Juto JE, Mølhave L (2006) Upper airway inflammation in relation to dust spiked with aldehydes or glucan. Scand J Work Environ Health 32:374–382
Falk AA, Hagberg M, Löf A, Wigeaus Hjelm EW, Wang Z (1990) Uptake, distribution and elimination of α-pinene in man after exposure by inhalation. Scand J Work Environ Health 16:372–378
Falk A, Löf A, Hagberg M, Wigeaus Hjelm EW, Wang Z (1991) Human exposure to 3-carene by inhalation: toxicokinetics, effects on pulmonary function and occurrence of irritative and CNS symptoms. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 110:198–205
Kasanen JP, Pasanen AL, Pasanen P, Liesivuori J, Kosma VM, Alarie Y (1999) Evaluation of sensory irritation of delta3-carene and turpentine, and acceptable levels of monoterpenes in occupational and indoor environment. J Toxicol Environ Health A 57:89–114
Wolkoff P, Skov P, Franck C, Pedersen LN (2003) Eye irritation and environmental factors in the office environment. Hypotheses, causes, and a physiological model. Scand J Work Environ Health 29:411–430
Wolkoff P, Wilkins CK, Clausen PA, Nielsen GD (2006) Organic compounds in office environments: sensory irritation, odor, measurements and the role of reactive chemistry. Indoor Air 16:7–19
Edman K, Löfstedt H, Berg P, Eriksson K, Axelsson S, Bryngelsson I, Fedeli C (2003) Exposure assessment to α- and β-pinene, Δ3-carene and wood dust in industrial production of wood pellets. Ann Occup Hyg 47:219–226
Hedenstierna, G, Alexandersson R, Wimander K, Rosen G (1983) Exposure to terpenes: effects on pulmonary function. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 51:191–198
Cometto-Muniz JE, Cain WS, Abraham MH, Kumarsingh R (1998) Sensory properties of selected terpenes. Thresholds for odor, nasal pungency, nasal localization, and eye irritation. Ann N Y Acad Sci 855:648–651
Ernstgaard L, Gullstrand E, Löf A, Johanson G (2002) Are women more sensitive than men to 2-propanol and m-xylene vapours? Occup Environ Med 59:759–767
Ernstgaard L, Iregren A, Sjögren B, Johanson G (2006) Acute effects of exposure to vapours of acetic acid in humans. Toxicol Lett 165:22–30
Ernstgaard L, Iregren A, Sjögren B, Svedberg U, Johanson G (2006) Acute effects of exposure to hexanal vapors in humans. J Occup Environ Health 48:573–80
Ernstgaard L, Iregren A, Juran, S, Sjögren B, van Thriel C, Johanson G (2009) Acute effects of exposure to vapors of standard and dearomatized white spirits in humans. 2. Irritation and inflammation. J Appl Toxicol 29:263–274
Kobal G, Hummel T, Sekinger B, Barz S, Roscher S, Wolf S (1996) ’sniffin’ Sticks’: screening of olfactory performance. Rhinology 34:222–226
Hummel T, Kobal G, Gudziol H, Mackay-Sim A (2007) Normative data for the “Sniffin’ Sticks” including tests of odor identification, odor discrimination, and olfactory thresholds: an upgrade based on a group of more than 3,000 subjects. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 264:237–243
Katotomichelakis M, Balatsouras D, Tripsianis G, Tsaroucha A, Homsioglou E, Danielides V (2007) Normative Values of Olfactory Function Testing Using the ’sniffin’ Sticks’. Laryngoscope 117:114–120
ISO 16000-9 (2006) Indoor air — Part 9: Determination of the emission of volatile organic compounds from building products and furnishing. Emission Test Chamber Method
EN 717-1 (2005) Wood-based panels — determination of formaldehyde release: Part 1: Formaldehyde emission by the chamber method
ISO 16000-6 (2004) Indoor air — Part 6: Determination of volatile organic compounds in indoor and test chamber air by active sampling on Tenax TA sorbent, thermal desorption and gas chromatography using MS/FID
ISO 16000-3 (2001) Indoor air — Part 3: Determination of formaldehyde and other carbonyl compounds: active sampling method
American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society Recommendations (2005) Recommendations for standardized procedures for the online and offline measurement of exhaled lower respiratory nitric oxide and nasal nitric oxide. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 171:912–930
Hemmingsson T, Linnarsson D, Gambert R (2004) Novel handheld device for exhaled nitric oxide analysis in research and clinical applications. J Clin Monit Comput 18:379–387
Kiesswetter E, van Thriel C, Schäper M, Blaszkewicz M, Seeber A (2005) Eye blinks as an indicator for sensory irritation during constant and peak exposures to 2-ethylhexanol. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 19:531–541
GIRL (2004) Feststellung und Beurteilung von Geruchsimmissionen (Geruchsimmissions-Richtlinie — GIRL) in der Fassung vom 21. September 2004 mit Begründung und Auslegungshinweisen.
Hollander M, Wolfe DA (1973) Nonparametric statistical methods. Wiley, New York
Page EB (1963) Ordered hypotheses for multiple treatments: a significance test for linear ranks. J Am Stat Assoc 58:216–230
Falk Filipson A (1996) Short term inhalation exposure to turpentine; toxicokinetics and acute effects in men. Occup Environ Med 53:100–105
Kharitonov SA, Gonio F, Kelly C, Meah S, Barnes PJ (2003) Reproducibility of exhaled nitric oxide measurements in healthy and asthmatic adults and children. Eur Respir J 21:433–438
Vahlkvist S, Sinding M, Skamstrup K, Bisgaard H (2006) Daily home measurements of exhaled nitric oxide in asthmatic children during natural birch pollen exposure. J Allergy Clin Immunol 117:1272–1276
Maniscalco M, Sofia M, Pelaia G (2007) Nitric oxide in upper airways inflammatory diseases. Inflamm Res 56:58–69
Turner S (2007) The role of exhaled nitric oxide in the diagnosis, management and treatment of asthma. Mini Rev Med Chem 7:539–542
Price D, Berg J, Lindgren P (2009) An economic evaluation of NIOX MINO airway inflammation monitor in the United Kingdom. Allergy 64:413–414
Brindicci C, Ito K, Barnes PJ, Kharitonov SA (2007) Differential flow analysis of exhaled nitric oxide in patients with asthma of differing severity. Chest 131:1353–1362
Kleno J, Wolkoff P (2004) Changes in eye blink frequency as a measure of trigeminal stimulation by exposure to limonene oxidation products, isoprene oxidation products and nitrate radicals. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 77:235–243
van Thriel C, Seeber A, Kiesswetter E, Blaszkewicz M, Golka K, Wiesmuller GA (2003) Physiological and psychological approaches to chemosensory effects of solvents. Toxicol Lett 140-141: 261–271
van Thriel C, Kiesswetter E, Blaszkewicz M, Golka K, Seeber A (2003) Neurobehavioral effects during experimental exposure to 1-octanol and isopropanol. Scand J Work Environ Health 29: 143–151
van Thriel C, Kiesswetter E, Blaszkewicz M, Golka K, Seeber A (2003) Neurobehavioral effects during experimental exposure to 1-octanol and isopropanol. Scand J Work Environ Health 29: 143–151
Nojgaard JK, Christensen KB, Wolkoff P (2005) The effects on human eye blink frequency of exposure to limonene oxidation products and methacrolein. Toxicol Lett 156:241–251
Iregren A, Tesarz M, Wigaeus-Hjelm E (1993) Human experimental MIBK exposure: effects on heart rate, performance, and symptoms. Environ Res 63:101–108
Järnberg J, Johanson G, Löf A (1996) Toxicokinetics of inhaled trimethylbenzenes in man. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 140:81–288
Sundblad BM, Larsson BM, Acevedo F, Ernstgaard L, Johanson G, Larsson K, Palmberg L (2004) Acute respiratory effects of exposure to ammonia on healthy persons. Scand J Work Environ Health 30:313–321
Wieslander G, Norbäck D, Venge P (2007) Changes of symptoms, tear film stability and eosinophilic cationic protein in nasal lavage fluid after re-exposure to a damp office building with history in flooding. Indoor Air 17:19–27
Kharitonov SA, Yates D, Barnes PJ (1995) Increased nitric oxide in exhaled air of normal human subjects with upper respiratory tract infections. Eur Respir J 8:295–297
Stick S, Franklin P (2009) NO more dogma. Nitric oxide marker in asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 179:87–92
Walinder R, Ernstgaard L, Johanson G, Norbäck D, Venge W, Wieslander G (2005) Acute effects of a fungal volatile compound. Environ Health Perspect 113:775–778
Walinder R, Ernstgaard L, Norbäck D, Wieslander, G, Johanson G (2008) Acute effects of 1-octen-3-ol, a microbial volatile organic compound (MVOC): an experimental study. Toxicol Lett 181: 141–147
Ziegler AE, Zimmer H, Triebig G (2008) Exposure study on chemosensory effects of caprolactam in the low concentration range. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 81:743–753
Lang I, Bruckner T, Triebig G (2008) Formaldehyde and chemosensory irritation in humans. A controlled human exposure study. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 50:23–36
Junker, MH, Danuser B, Monn C, Koller T (2001) Acute sensory responses of nonsmokers at very low environmental tobacco smoke concentrations in controlled laboratory settings. Environ Health Perspect 109:1045–1052
Shusterman D (1992) The health significance of environmental odor pollution. Arch Environ Health 47:76–87
Cain WS, Schmidt R, Wolkoff P (2007) Olfactory detection of ozone and d-limonene: reactants in indoor spaces. Indoor Air 17:337–347
Cain WS, Schmidt R (2009) Can we trust odor databases? Example of t- and n-butyl acetate. Atmos Environ 43:2591–2601
Knudsen HM, Nielsen PA, Clausen PA, Wilkins CA, Wolkoff P (2003) Sensory evaluation of emissions from selected building products exposed to ozone. Indoor Air 13:223–231
Wilkins K, Wolkoff P, Knudsen HN, Clausen PA (2007) The impact of information on perceived air quality — “organic” vs. “synthetic” building materials. Indoor Air 17:130–134
Ayabe-Kanamura S, Schicker I, Laska M, Hudson R, Distel H, Kobayakawa T, Saito S (1998) Differences in perception of everyday odors: a Japanese-German cross-cultural study. Chem Senses 23:31–38
Dalton P (2003) Upper airway irritation, odor perception and health risk due to airborne chemicals. Toxicol Lett 140–141:239–248
Shusterman D, Murphy MA, Balmes J (2003) Differences in nasal irritant sensitivity by age, gender, and allergic rhinitis status. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 76:577–583
Glasius M, Lahaniati M, Galagirou A, Di Bella D, Jensen NR, Hjorth J, Kotzias D, Larsen BR (2000) Carboxylic acids in secondary aerosols from oxidation of cyclic monoterpenes by ozone. Environ Sci Technol 34:1001–1010
Docherty KS, Wu W, Lim YB, Ziemann PJ (2005) Contributions of organic peroxides to secondary aerosol formed from reactions of monoterpenes and O3. Environ Sci Technol 39:4049–4059
Chen X, Hopke PK (2009) Secondary organic aerosol from α-pinene ozonolysis in dynamic chamber system. Indoor Air 19: 335–345
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gminski, R., Marutzky, R., Kevekordes, S. et al. Sensory irritations and pulmonary effects in human volunteers following short-term exposure to pinewood emissions. J Wood Sci 57, 436–445 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-011-1182-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-011-1182-1