Sensory irritation caused by various industrial airborne chemicals

Sensory Reactions of Nasal Pungency and Odor to Volatile Organic Compounds: The Alkylbenzenes

“…The RD 50 values for these acetates (as well as for butyl acetate ) are quite similar (Table I), and fail to follow the tendency seen in other chemical series where RD 50 decreases with increasing carbon chain length. RD 50 values for ethyl acetate have repeatedly failed to bear the same relationship to TLVs as the bulk of other tested compounds (33,34) .…”

Health hazard evaluation report: HETA-86-053-1933, Gray Printing Company, Fostoria, Ohio.

“…Also associated with work in the solvent-exposed areas were respiratorychest symptoms, especially cough and chest pain. Both isopropyl alcohol and naphthas are known to be respiratory irritants, 11,12 although these symptoms are usually seen at levels higher than were measured during the environmental survey.…”

Toxicological Profile for Ethylbenzene

“…Mice exposed to 4,060 ppm for 20 minutes showed a 50% reduction in respiratory rate (Nielsen and Alarie 1982). A 50% respiratory depression observed in mice at 1,432 ppm was attributed to sensory irritation (De Ceaurriz et al 1981). …”

“…Pulmonary congestion also was observed in rats and mice that died during exposure a 4-day exposure to 2,400 and ≥1,200 ppm ethylbenzene, respectively (Ethylbenzene Producers Association 1986a). A 50% reduction in breathing rate was observed in mice exposed to 1,432 ppm for 5 minutes (De Ceaurriz et al 1981) and 4,060 ppm for 30 minutes (Nielsen and Alarie 1982). No adverse respiratory effects were observed in rats exposed to 2,000 ppm for 3 days (Toftgard and Nilsen 1982) or in rats, mice, and rabbits exposed to 1,200, 400, or 2,400 ppm, respectively, for 4 days (Ethylbenzene Producers Association 1986a).…”