Evaluation of the Contact and Respiratory Sensitization Potential of Volatile Organic Compounds Generated by Simulated Indoor Air Chemistry

Abstract

Up to 60 million people working indoors experience symptoms such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headache, and fatigue. Investigations into these complaints have ascribed the effects to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from building materials, cleaning formulations, or other consumer products. New compounds can result when the VOCs react with hydroxyl or nitrate radicals or ozone present in indoor environments. Several oxygenated organic compounds, such as glyoxal, methylglyoxal, glycolaldehyde, and diacetyl, have been identified as possible reaction products of indoor environment chemistry. Although research has previously identified diacetyl and glyoxal as sensitizers, additional experiments were conducted in these studies to further classify their sensitization potential. Sensitization potential of these four compounds was assessed using quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) programs. Derek for Windows and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health logistic regression predicted all compounds to be sensitizers, while TOPKAT 6.2 predicted all compounds except for methylglyoxal. All compounds were tested in a combined irritancy and local lymph node assay (LLNA). All compounds except for glyoxal were found to be irritants and all tested positive in the LLNA with EC3 values ranging from 0.42 to 1.9%. Methylglyoxal significantly increased both the B220(+) and IgE(+)B220(+) cell populations in the draining lymph nodes and total serum IgE levels. The four compounds generated by indoor air chemistry were predicted by QSAR and animal modeling to be sensitizers, with the potential for methylglyoxal to induce IgE. The identification of these compounds as sensitizers may help to explain some of the health effects associated with indoor air complaints.

Reactions of ozone with human skin lipids: Sources of carbonyls, dicarbonyls, and hydroxycarbonyls in indoor air

“…The volatile products of ozone/skin-oil chemistry can be inhaled, while the less volatile oxidation products can remain on the skin. Some of the inhaled volatile products, especially the dicarbonyls, may be respiratory irritants (41)(42)(43). Some of the less volatile products may be skin irritants (14-16, 44, 45).…”

Respiratory Toxicologic Pathology of Inhaled Diacetyl in Sprague-Dawley Rats

“…In vitro experiments suggest that TOXICOLOGIC PATHOLOGY diacetyl can increase airway reactivity (Fedan et al 2006). Diacetyl is also a sensitizing agent (Anderson et al 2007;Roberts et al 1999), certainly a concern given the wheezing reported by workers. Although fixed airways obstruction is the most distinguishing pulmonary function change noted in severely affected workers, some workers have a reversible component to their disease (Akpinar-Elci et al 2004).…”

Spatial Variation in Ambient Air Toxics Concentrations and Health Risks between Industrial-Influenced, Urban, and Rural Sites

“…Extensive toxicological research has indicated that chronic exposures to moderate air toxics concentrations can cause long-term cancer and non-cancer health effects. [1][2][3][4][5] Nonetheless, further epidemiological studies are needed to characterize effects from specific compounds and mixtures. 6 -9 The National Air Toxics Assessment (NATA) investigated national patterns in emissions, concentrations, exposures, and risks.…”