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Bratman GN, Bembibre C, Daily GC, Doty RL, Hummel T, Jacobs LF, Kahn PH, Lashus C, Majid A, Miller JD, Oleszkiewicz A, Olvera-Alvarez H, Parma V, Riederer AM, Sieber NL, Williams J, Xiao J, Yu CP, Spengler JD. Nature and human well-being: The olfactory pathway. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadn3028. [PMID: 38748806 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn3028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
The world is undergoing massive atmospheric and ecological change, driving unprecedented challenges to human well-being. Olfaction is a key sensory system through which these impacts occur. The sense of smell influences quality of and satisfaction with life, emotion, emotion regulation, cognitive function, social interactions, dietary choices, stress, and depressive symptoms. Exposures via the olfactory pathway can also lead to (anti-)inflammatory outcomes. Increased understanding is needed regarding the ways in which odorants generated by nature (i.e., natural olfactory environments) affect human well-being. With perspectives from a range of health, social, and natural sciences, we provide an overview of this unique sensory system, four consensus statements regarding olfaction and the environment, and a conceptual framework that integrates the olfactory pathway into an understanding of the effects of natural environments on human well-being. We then discuss how this framework can contribute to better accounting of the impacts of policy and land-use decision-making on natural olfactory environments and, in turn, on planetary health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory N Bratman
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Cecilia Bembibre
- Institute for Sustainable Heritage, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gretchen C Daily
- Natural Capital Project, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Woods Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Richard L Doty
- Smell and Taste Center, Department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Interdisciplinary Center Smell and Taste, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Lucia F Jacobs
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Peter H Kahn
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Connor Lashus
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Asifa Majid
- Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Anna Oleszkiewicz
- Interdisciplinary Center Smell and Taste, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Wrocław, Poland
| | | | | | - Anne M Riederer
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Nancy Long Sieber
- T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jonathan Williams
- Air Chemistry Department, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Climate and Atmosphere Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Jieling Xiao
- College of Architecture, Birmingham City University, Birmingham, UK
| | - Chia-Pin Yu
- School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
- The Experimental Forest, College of Bio-Resources and Agriculture, National Taiwan University, Taiwan
| | - John D Spengler
- T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Cao Z, Yang A, White AJ, Purdy F, Li C, Luo Z, D’Aloisio AA, Suarez L, Deming-Halverson S, Pinto JM, Chen JC, Werder EJ, Kaufman JD, Sandler DP, Chen H. Ambient Air Pollutants and Olfaction among Women 50-79 Years of Age from the Sister Study. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:87012. [PMID: 37594315 PMCID: PMC10436839 DOI: 10.1289/ehp12066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Poor olfaction is common in older adults and may have profound adverse implications on their health. However, little is known about the potential environmental contributors to poor olfaction. OBJECTIVE We investigated ambient fine particulate matter [PM ≤ 2.5 μ m in aerodynamic diameter (PM 2.5 )] and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) in relation to poor olfaction in middle-aged to older women. METHODS The Sister Study is a nationwide cohort of 50,884 women in the United States with annual average air pollutant exposures estimated based on participants' residences from enrollment (2003-2009) through 2017. This analysis was limited to 3,345 women, 50-79 years of age as of January 2018, who completed the Brief Smell Identification Test (B-SIT) in 2018-2019. Poor olfaction was defined as a B-SIT score of ≤ 9 in the primary analysis. We conducted multivariable logistic regressions, accounting for covariates and study sampling design. RESULTS Overall, we found little evidence for associations of air pollutants with poor olfaction. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of poor olfaction for each interquartile range (IQR) increment of air pollutants in 2006 were 1.03 (95% CI: 0.91, 1.17) for PM 2.5 (per 3.3 μ g / m 3 ) and 1.08 (95% CI: 0.96, 1.22) for NO 2 (per 5.7 ppb ). Results were similar in the analyses using the most recent (2017) or the cumulative average (2006-2017) air pollutant exposure data. Secondary analyses suggested potential association in certain subgroups. The OR per IQR was 1.35 (95% CI: 1.11, 1.65) for PM 2.5 among younger participants (< 54.2 years of age) and 1.87 (95% CI: 1.29, 2.71) for NO 2 among current smokers. DISCUSSION This study did not find convincing evidence that air pollutants have lasting detrimental effects on the sense of smell of women 50-79 years of age. The subgroup analyses are exploratory, and the findings need independent confirmation. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12066.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zichun Cao
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Aiwen Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Alexandra J. White
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Frank Purdy
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Chenxi Li
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Zhehui Luo
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - Aimee A. D’Aloisio
- Social & Scientific Systems, DLH Holdings Corporation, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lourdes Suarez
- Social & Scientific Systems, DLH Holdings Corporation, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Jayant M. Pinto
- Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jiu-Chiuan Chen
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, University of Southern California (USC), Los Angeles, California, USA
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Emily J. Werder
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Joel D. Kaufman
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine (UW Medicine), Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Medicine, UW Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, UW Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Dale P. Sandler
- Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Honglei Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
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3
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Scussiatto HO, da Silva JLB, Figueiredo AF, Ramos RAMR, de Rezende Pinna F, Voegels RL, Pinto JM, Fornazieri MA. Association of air pollution with olfactory identification performance of São Paulo residents: a cross-sectional study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2023; 96:621-628. [PMID: 36719485 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-023-01956-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Exposure to particulate matter of 10 μm or less in diameter (PM10) has been implicated in pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. However, the effect of PM10 on olfaction has not been well established. We estimated individual acute and chronic PM10 exposure levels in a large Brazilian cohort and related them to the ability to identify odors. METHODS Adults from São Paulo (n = 1358) were recruited from areas with different levels of air pollution. To verify individual exposure to air pollution, the averages of 30, 60, 90, 180 and 364 days of PM10 were interpolated to subjects' zip codes using the kriging method. Olfactory identification performance was tested using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT®). Multiple linear regressions were used to calculate the effect of air pollution on olfactory identification performance, controlling for demographic and other variables that affect the sense of smell. RESULTS Acute exposures to PM10 were related to worse UPSIT® scores, including 30- (β = - 0.94, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] - 0.98, - 0.89), 60- (β = - 1.09, 95% CI = - 1.13, - 1.04) and 90-day intervals (β = - 1.06, 95% CI - 1.10, - 1.02) (reference for β: 1 µm/m3 increase in PM10 exposure per point decrease in UPSIT® score). Chronic exposures were also associated with worse olfaction for both 180- (β = - 1.06, 95% CI - 1.10, - 1.03) and 364-day (β = - 0.87, 95% CI - 0.90, - 0.84) intervals. As in prior work, men, older, low-income, and low-schooling people demonstrated worse olfactory performance. CONCLUSION Acute and chronic exposure to PM10 is strongly associated with olfactory identification performance in Brazilian adults. Understanding the mechanisms which underlie these relationships could help to improve chemosensory function with a large public health impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique Ochoa Scussiatto
- Department of Surgery, State University of Londrina, Celso Garcia Cid Road, Londrina, Parana, 86057970, Brazil. .,Section of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Chicago, South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - Jose Lucas Barbosa da Silva
- Department of Surgery, State University of Londrina, Celso Garcia Cid Road, Londrina, Parana, 86057970, Brazil.,Department of Surgery, University of São Paulo, Doutor Arnaldo Avenue, São Paulo, 01246903, Brazil
| | - Alan Felipe Figueiredo
- Department of Surgery, State University of Londrina, Celso Garcia Cid Road, Londrina, Parana, 86057970, Brazil
| | | | - Fabio de Rezende Pinna
- Department of Surgery, University of São Paulo, Doutor Arnaldo Avenue, São Paulo, 01246903, Brazil
| | - Richard Louis Voegels
- Department of Surgery, University of São Paulo, Doutor Arnaldo Avenue, São Paulo, 01246903, Brazil
| | - Jayant M Pinto
- Section of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Chicago, South Ellis Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Marco Aurelio Fornazieri
- Department of Surgery, State University of Londrina, Celso Garcia Cid Road, Londrina, Parana, 86057970, Brazil.,Department of Surgery, University of São Paulo, Doutor Arnaldo Avenue, São Paulo, 01246903, Brazil.,Department of Surgery, Pontifical Catholic University of Parana, Jockey Club Avenue, Londrina, Parana, 86067000, Brazil
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Oleszkiewicz A, Schriever VA, Valder C, Agosin E, Altundag A, Avni H, Cao Van H, Cornejo C, Fishman G, Guarneros M, Gupta N, Kamel R, Knaapila A, Konstantinidis I, Landis BN, Larsson M, Lundström JN, Macchi A, Marino-Sanchez F, Mori E, Mullol J, Parma V, Propst EJ, Sandell MA, Sorokowska A, Vodicka J, Hummel T, Gellrich J. Hedonic perception of odors in children aged 5-8 years is similar across 18 countries: Preliminary data. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2022; 157:111129. [PMID: 35443229 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2022.111129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Olfactory preference emerges very early in life, and the sense of smell in children rapidly develops until the second decade of life. It is still unclear whether hedonic perception of odors is shared in children inhabiting different regions of the globe. METHODS Five-hundred ten healthy children (N = 510; ngirls = 256; nboys = 254) aged from 5 to 8 years from 18 countries rated the pleasantness of 17 odors. RESULTS The hedonic perception of odors in children aged between 5 and 8 years was rather consistent across 18 countries and mainly driven by the qualities of an odor and the overall ability of children to label odorants. CONCLUSION Conclusions from this study, being a secondary analysis, are limited to the presented set of odors that were initially selected for the development of U-Sniff test and present null findings for the cross-cultural variability in hedonic perception of odors across 18 countries. These two major issues should be addressed in the future to either contradict or replicate the results presented herewith. This research lays fundament for posing further research questions about the developmental aspects of hedonic perception of odors and opens a new door for investigating cross-cultural differences in chemosensory perception of children.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Oleszkiewicz
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - V A Schriever
- Abteilung Neuropädiatrie, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Center for Chronically Sick Children (Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum, SPZ), Berlin, Germany.
| | - C Valder
- Systema Natura GmbH, Flintbek, Germany.
| | - E Agosin
- College of Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - A Altundag
- Otorhinolaryngology Department of Biruni University Medical Faculty, Acibadem Taksim Hospital Otorhinolaryngology Department, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - H Avni
- Pediatric Feeding Disorders Clinic, Dana Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - H Cao Van
- Pediatric ENT Unit, Department of Otorhinolaryngologie Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - C Cornejo
- Escuela de Psicología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
| | - G Fishman
- Pediatric Otolaryngology, Dana Children's Hospital, Tel-Aviv Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv, Israel.
| | - M Guarneros
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico.
| | - N Gupta
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University College of Medical Sciences and GTB Hospital, Delhi, India.
| | - R Kamel
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - A Knaapila
- Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - I Konstantinidis
- 2nd Otorhinolaryngology Department of Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - B N Landis
- Rhinology-Olfactology Unit, Department of Otorhinolaryngologie Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - M Larsson
- Gösta Ekman Laboratory, Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - J N Lundström
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - A Macchi
- ENT Clinic, University of Insubriae Varese, ASST Settelaghi, Italy.
| | - F Marino-Sanchez
- Unidad de Rinología y Cirugía de Base de Cráneo, Servicio de Otorrinolaringología. Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
| | - E Mori
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - J Mullol
- Rhinology Unit & Smell Clinic, ENT Department, Hospital Clínic, IDIBAPS, Universitat de Barcelona, CIBERES, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| | - V Parma
- Temple University, Department of Psychology, Philadelphia, USA; Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, USA.
| | - E J Propst
- Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Canada.
| | - M A Sandell
- Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - A Sorokowska
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - J Vodicka
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Pardubice, Pardubice, Czech Republic.
| | - T Hummel
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| | - J Gellrich
- Abteilung Neuropädiatrie, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany; Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder- und Jugendheilkunde, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany.
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5
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Patel ZM, Holbrook EH, Turner JH, Adappa ND, Albers MW, Altundag A, Appenzeller S, Costanzo RM, Croy I, Davis GE, Dehgani-Mobaraki P, Doty RL, Duffy VB, Goldstein BJ, Gudis DA, Haehner A, Higgins TS, Hopkins C, Huart C, Hummel T, Jitaroon K, Kern RC, Khanwalkar AR, Kobayashi M, Kondo K, Lane AP, Lechner M, Leopold DA, Levy JM, Marmura MJ, Mclelland L, Miwa T, Moberg PJ, Mueller CA, Nigwekar SU, O'Brien EK, Paunescu TG, Pellegrino R, Philpott C, Pinto JM, Reiter ER, Roalf DR, Rowan NR, Schlosser RJ, Schwob J, Seiden AM, Smith TL, Soler ZM, Sowerby L, Tan BK, Thamboo A, Wrobel B, Yan CH. International consensus statement on allergy and rhinology: Olfaction. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol 2022; 12:327-680. [PMID: 35373533 DOI: 10.1002/alr.22929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The literature regarding clinical olfaction, olfactory loss, and olfactory dysfunction has expanded rapidly over the past two decades, with an exponential rise in the past year. There is substantial variability in the quality of this literature and a need to consolidate and critically review the evidence. It is with that aim that we have gathered experts from around the world to produce this International Consensus on Allergy and Rhinology: Olfaction (ICAR:O). METHODS Using previously described methodology, specific topics were developed relating to olfaction. Each topic was assigned a literature review, evidence-based review, or evidence-based review with recommendations format as dictated by available evidence and scope within the ICAR:O document. Following iterative reviews of each topic, the ICAR:O document was integrated and reviewed by all authors for final consensus. RESULTS The ICAR:O document reviews nearly 100 separate topics within the realm of olfaction, including diagnosis, epidemiology, disease burden, diagnosis, testing, etiology, treatment, and associated pathologies. CONCLUSION This critical review of the existing clinical olfaction literature provides much needed insight and clarity into the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with olfactory dysfunction, while also clearly delineating gaps in our knowledge and evidence base that we should investigate further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zara M Patel
- Otolaryngology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Eric H Holbrook
- Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Justin H Turner
- Otolaryngology, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Nithin D Adappa
- Otolaryngology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mark W Albers
- Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Aytug Altundag
- Otolaryngology, Biruni University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Simone Appenzeller
- Rheumatology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Richard M Costanzo
- Physiology and Biophysics and Otolaryngology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Ilona Croy
- Psychology and Psychosomatic Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Greg E Davis
- Otolaryngology, Proliance Surgeons, Seattle and Puyallup, Washington, USA
| | - Puya Dehgani-Mobaraki
- Associazione Naso Sano, Umbria Regional Registry of Volunteer Activities, Corciano, Italy
| | - Richard L Doty
- Smell and Taste Center, Otolaryngology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Valerie B Duffy
- Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | | | - David A Gudis
- Otolaryngology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, USA
| | - Antje Haehner
- Smell and Taste, Otolaryngology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas S Higgins
- Otolaryngology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
| | - Claire Hopkins
- Otolaryngology, Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospitals, London Bridge Hospital, London, UK
| | - Caroline Huart
- Otorhinolaryngology, Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc, Institute of Neuroscience, Université catholgique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Smell and Taste, Otolaryngology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Robert C Kern
- Otolaryngology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Ashoke R Khanwalkar
- Otolaryngology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Masayoshi Kobayashi
- Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Mie, Japan
| | - Kenji Kondo
- Otolaryngology, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Andrew P Lane
- Otolaryngology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Matt Lechner
- Otolaryngology, Barts Health and University College London, London, UK
| | - Donald A Leopold
- Otolaryngology, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Joshua M Levy
- Otolaryngology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Michael J Marmura
- Neurology Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lisha Mclelland
- Otolaryngology, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
| | - Takaki Miwa
- Otolaryngology, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Paul J Moberg
- Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | | | - Sagar U Nigwekar
- Division of Nephrology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Erin K O'Brien
- Otolaryngology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Teodor G Paunescu
- Division of Nephrology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Carl Philpott
- Otolaryngology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - Jayant M Pinto
- Otolaryngology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Evan R Reiter
- Otolaryngology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - David R Roalf
- Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nicholas R Rowan
- Otolaryngology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Rodney J Schlosser
- Otolaryngology, Medical University of South Carolina, Mt Pleasant, South Carolina, USA
| | - James Schwob
- Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Allen M Seiden
- Otolaryngology, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Timothy L Smith
- Otolaryngology, Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Zachary M Soler
- Otolaryngology, Medical University of South Carolina, Mt Pleasant, South Carolina, USA
| | - Leigh Sowerby
- Otolaryngology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bruce K Tan
- Otolaryngology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Andrew Thamboo
- Otolaryngology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bozena Wrobel
- Otolaryngology, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Carol H Yan
- Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, UCSD, La Jolla, California, USA
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Environmental triggers of Parkinson's disease - Implications of the Braak and dual-hit hypotheses. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 163:105601. [PMID: 34954321 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) may take decades to develop, during which many risk or protective factors may come into play to initiate the pathogenesis or modify its progression to clinical PD. The lack of understanding of this prodromal phase of PD and the factors involved has been a major hurdle in the study of PD etiology and preventive strategies. Although still controversial, the Braak and dual-hit hypotheses that PD may start peripherally in the olfactory structures and/or the gut provides a theoretical platform to identify the triggers and modifiers of PD prodromal development and progression. This is particularly true for the search of environmental causes of PD as the olfactory structures and gut are the major human mucosal interfaces with the environment. In this review, we lay out our personal views about how the Braak and dual-hit hypotheses may help us search for the environmental triggers and modifiers for PD, summarize available experimental and epidemiological evidence, and discuss research gaps and strategies.
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Wei S, Xu T, Jiang T, Yin D. Chemosensory Dysfunction Induced by Environmental Pollutants and Its Potential As a Novel Neurotoxicological Indicator: A Review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:10911-10922. [PMID: 34355568 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution composed of the complex interactions among particular matter, chemicals, and pathogens is an emerging and global environmental issue that closely correlates with a variety of diseases and adverse health effects, especially increasing incidences of neurodegenerative diseases. However, as one of the prevalent health outcomes of air pollution, chemosensory dysfunction has not attracted enough concern until recently. During the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple scientific studies emphasized the plausibly essential roles of the chemosensory system in the airborne transmission airway of viruses into the human body, which can also be utilized by pollutants. In this Review, in addition to summarizing current progress regarding the contributions of traditional air pollutants to chemosensory dysfunction, we highlight the roles of emerging contaminants. We not only sum up clarified mechanisms, such as inflammation and apoptosis but also discuss some not yet completely identified mechanisms, e.g., disruption of olfactory signal transduction. Although the existing evidence is not overwhelming, the chemosensory system is expected to be a useful indicator in neurotoxicology and neural diseases based on accumulating studies that continually excavate the deep link between chemosensory dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases. Finally, we argue the importance of studies concerning chemosensory dysfunction in understanding the health effects of air pollution and provide comments for some future directions of relevant research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Wei
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Ting Xu
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Lyon Neuroscience Research Center (CRNL), Neuro-Ethology Team, 59 Bd Pinel, 69500 Bron, France
| | - Daqiang Yin
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, People's Republic of China
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8
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James J, Tsvik AM, Chung SY, Usseglio J, Gudis DA, Overdevest JB. Association between social determinants of health and olfactory function: a scoping review. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol 2021; 11:1472-1493. [PMID: 34047496 DOI: 10.1002/alr.22822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 05/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social determinants of health (SDoH) include the socioeconomic, demographic, and social conditions that influence differences in health status among individuals and groups. The impact of these conditions on olfactory function remains poorly understood. In this scoping review, we systematically review the available literature to synthesize the association between SDoH and olfactory function. METHODS In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, we performed systematic search queries in PubMed, Embase, and Ovid databases and categorized articles according to themes that emerged regarding SDoH. The primary outcomes included self-reported and objective measurements of smell. RESULTS We identified 722 unique references that underwent title and abstract review by two independent reviewers, with 70 articles undergoing full-text review and 57 relevant for data extraction. Six themes emerged in our review, under which we categorized the studies and synthesized respective associations with olfactory function. These include studies exploring socioeconomic status (n = 19, 33%), education status (n = 27, 47%), occupational exposures (n = 26, 46%), racial/ethnic disparities (n = 12, 21%), and lifestyle/behavioral factors (n = 33, 58%). CONCLUSIONS Within the context of this scoping review, olfactory dysfunction is significantly more prevalent in patients with lower socioeconomic status, exposure to environmental and occupational toxins, and of minority race/ethnicity, whereas the associations between olfactory dysfunction and education level and lifestyle factors such as smoking and drinking seem to be much more elusive. This review highlights the importance of accounting for SDoH in observational studies examining olfactory outcomes. Given the increased awareness of olfactory loss, special consideration should be given to understanding olfactory dysfunction in the context of these factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel James
- City University of New York School of Medicine, New York, NY
| | - Avraham M Tsvik
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, NJ
| | - Sei Y Chung
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - John Usseglio
- Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
| | - David A Gudis
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jonathan B Overdevest
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
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9
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Zhang Z, Rowan NR, Pinto JM, London NR, Lane AP, Biswal S, Ramanathan M. Exposure to Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Anosmia. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2111606. [PMID: 34042992 PMCID: PMC8160589 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.11606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Anosmia, the loss of the sense of smell, has profound implications for patient safety, well-being, and quality of life, and it is a predictor of patient frailty and mortality. Exposure to air pollution may be an olfactory insult that contributes to the development of anosmia. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) with an aerodynamic diameter of no more than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) with anosmia. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This case-control study examined individuals who presented from January 1, 2013, through December 31, 2016, at an academic medical center in Baltimore, Maryland. Case participants were diagnosed with anosmia by board-certified otolaryngologists. Control participants were selected using the nearest neighbor matching strategy for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and date of diagnosis. Data analysis was conducted from September 2020 to March 2021. EXPOSURES Ambient PM2.5 levels. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Novel method to quantify ambient PM2.5 exposure levels in patients diagnosed with anosmia compared with matched control participants. RESULTS A total of 2690 patients were identified with a mean (SD) age of 55.3 (16.6) years. The case group included 538 patients with anosmia (20%), and the control group included 2152 matched control participants (80%). Most of the individuals in the case and control groups were women, White patients, had overweight (BMI 25 to <30), and did not smoke (women: 339 [63.0%] and 1355 [63.0%]; White patients: 318 [59.1%] and 1343 [62.4%]; had overweight: 179 [33.3%] and 653 [30.3%]; and did not smoke: 328 [61.0%] and 1248 [58.0%]). Mean (SD) exposure to PM2.5 was significantly higher in patients with anosmia compared with healthy control participants at 12-, 24-, 36-, 60-month time points: 10.2 (1.6) μg/m3 vs 9.9 (1.9) μg/m3; 10.5 (1.7) μg/m3 vs 10.2 (1.9) μg/m3; 10.8 (1.8) μg/m3 vs 10.4 (2.0) μg/m3; and 11.0 (1.8) μg/m3 vs 10.7 (2.1) μg/m3, respectively. There was an association between elevated PM2.5 exposure level and odds of anosmia in multivariate analyses that adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, body mass index, alcohol or tobacco use, and medical comorbidities (12 mo: odds ratio [OR], 1.73; 95% CI, 1.28-2.33; 24 mo: OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.30-2.29; 36 mo: OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.30-2.19; and 60 mo: OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.22-2.08). The association between long-term exposure to PM2.5 and the odds of developing anosmia was nonlinear, as indicated by spline analysis. For example, for 12 months of exposure to PM2.5, the odds of developing anosmia at 6.0 µg/m3 was OR 0.79 (95% CI, 0.64-0.97); at 10.0 µg/m3, OR 1.42 (95% CI, 1.10-1.82); at 15.0 µg/m3, OR 2.03 (95% CI, 1.15-3.58). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this study, long-term airborne exposure to PM2.5 was associated with anosmia. Ambient PM2.5 represents a potentially ubiquitous and modifiable risk factor for the loss of sense of smell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
- Department of Global Health, The Peking University School of Public Health, Beijing, China
| | - Nicholas R. Rowan
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Jayant M. Pinto
- Section of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago, Illinois
| | - Nyall R. London
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Andrew P. Lane
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Shyam Biswal
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Murugappan Ramanathan
- Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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10
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Fischer HG, Schmidtbauer C, Seiffart A, Bucher M, Plontke SK, Rahne T. Contribution of ambient noise and hyperbaric atmosphere to olfactory and gustatory function. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0240537. [PMID: 33048988 PMCID: PMC7553350 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Taste and smell are important for occupational performance and quality of life. Previous studies suggested that the function of these senses might be influenced by ambient pressure and noise. This knowledge would be helpful for divers, submarine crews, or mine workers. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of noise and hyperbaric pressure on olfactory and gustatory functions. Methods This prospective controlled study included 16 healthy male divers. Inside a hyperbaric chamber, participants performed olfactory and gustatory function tests at sea level pressure and at 2 bar pressure. The olfaction threshold, and the discrimination and identification of odorants were measured with validated ´Sniffin sticks´. Taste identification and the gustation threshold scores were examined with validated filter paper strips. Tests were performed under two conditions: noise reduction (silence) and white noise stimulation presented at 70 dB sound pressure level. Results The results showed that normobaric and hyperbaric ambient pressures did not significantly affect olfactory or gustatory function. Moreover, noise had no relevant impact on taste or odor sensation. The odor identification score was not influenced in hyperbaric conditions, and the odor threshold score was not influenced by ambient noise or both barometric conditions. The only taste modality affected by hyperbaric conditions was the sensitivity to salty taste, but it was not significant. Conclusion We concluded that hyperbaric and noisy environments have no influence on gustatory and olfactory function. From a practical point of view, the influence of pressure in moderate hyperbaric occupations should be negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans-Georg Fischer
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology (ENT), Head and Neck Surgery, Military Hospital Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christopher Schmidtbauer
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Annett Seiffart
- University Clinic for Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Michael Bucher
- University Clinic for Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Stefan K. Plontke
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Torsten Rahne
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Halle (Saale), Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
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11
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Guarneros M, López-Rivera C, Gonsebatt ME, Alcaraz-Zubeldia M, Hummel T, Schriever VA, Valdez B, Hudson R. Metal-containing Particulate Matter and Associated Reduced Olfactory Identification Ability in Children from an Area of High Atmospheric Exposure in Mexico City. Chem Senses 2019; 45:45-58. [DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjz071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
AbstractAir pollution has been linked to poor olfactory function in human adults. Among pollutants, particulate matter (PM) is especially relevant, as it may contain toxic metal ions that can reach the brain via olfactory pathways. Our purpose was to investigate the relation between atmospheric PM and olfactory identification performance in children. Using a validated method, we tested the olfactory identification performance of 120 children, 6–12 years old, from two locations in Mexico City: a focal group (n = 60) from a region with high PM levels and a control group of equal size and similar socioeconomic level from a region with markedly lower PM concentrations. Groups were matched for age and sex. Concentrations of manganese and lead in the hair of participants were determined as biomarkers of exposure. Daily outdoor PM levels were obtained from official records, and indoor PM levels were measured in the children’s classrooms. Official records confirmed higher levels of outdoor PM in the focal region during the days of testing. We also found higher classroom PM concentrations at the focal site. Children from the focal site had on average significantly lower olfactory identification scores than controls, and hair analysis showed significantly higher levels of manganese for the focal children but no difference in lead. Children appear to be vulnerable to the effects of air pollution on olfactory identification performance, and metal-containing particles likely play a role in this. Olfactory tests provide a sensitive, noninvasive means to assess central nervous function in populations facing poor air quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Guarneros
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Cristina López-Rivera
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - María Eugenia Gonsebatt
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mireya Alcaraz-Zubeldia
- Departamento de Neuroquímica, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía ‘Manuel Velasco Suárez’, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Taste and Smell Clinic, University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Valentin A Schriever
- Taste and Smell Clinic, University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Abteilung Neuropädiatrie, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität, Dresden, Germany
| | - Bertha Valdez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Robyn Hudson
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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12
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Sorokowska A, Groyecka A, Karwowski M, Frackowiak T, Lansford JE, Ahmadi K, Alghraibeh AM, Aryeetey R, Bertoni A, Bettache K, Blumen S, Blazejewska M, Bortolini T, Butovskaya M, Cantarero K, Castro FN, Cetinkaya H, Chang L, Chen BB, Cunha D, David D, David OA, Dileym FA, Domínguez Espinosa ADC, Donato S, Dronova D, Dural S, Fialová J, Fisher M, Gulbetekin E, Hamamcioglu Akkaya A, Hilpert P, Hromatko I, Iafrate R, Iesyp M, James B, Jaranovic J, Jiang F, Kimamo CO, Kjelvik G, Koç F, Laar A, Lopes FDA, Macbeth G, Marcano NM, Martinez R, Mesko N, Molodovskaya N, Moradi Qezeli K, Motahari Z, Mühlhauser A, Natividade JC, Ntayi J, Oberzaucher E, Ojedokun O, Omar-Fauzee MSB, Onyishi IE, Paluszak A, Pierce JD, Pillay U, Portugal A, Razumiejczyk E, Realo A, Relvas AP, Rivas M, Rizwan M, Salkicevic S, Sarmány-Schuller I, Schmehl S, Senyk O, Sinding C, Sorbring E, Stamkou E, Stoyanova S, Šukolová D, Sutresna N, Tadinac M, Tapanya S, Teras A, Tinoco Ponciano EL, Tripathi R, Tripathi N, Tripathi M, Uhryn O, Yamamoto ME, Yoo G, Sorokowski P. Global Study of Social Odor Awareness. Chem Senses 2019; 43:503-513. [PMID: 29955865 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjy038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Olfaction plays an important role in human social communication, including multiple domains in which people often rely on their sense of smell in the social context. The importance of the sense of smell and its role can however vary inter-individually and culturally. Despite the growing body of literature on differences in olfactory performance or hedonic preferences across the globe, the aspects of a given culture as well as culturally universal individual differences affecting odor awareness in human social life remain unknown. Here, we conducted a large-scale analysis of data collected from 10 794 participants from 52 study sites from 44 countries all over the world. The aim of our research was to explore the potential individual and country-level correlates of odor awareness in the social context. The results show that the individual characteristics were more strongly related than country-level factors to self-reported odor awareness in different social contexts. A model including individual-level predictors (gender, age, material situation, education, and preferred social distance) provided a relatively good fit to the data, but adding country-level predictors (Human Development Index, population density, and average temperature) did not improve model parameters. Although there were some cross-cultural differences in social odor awareness, the main differentiating role was played by the individual differences. This suggests that people living in different cultures and different climate conditions may still share some similar patterns of odor awareness if they share other individual-level characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Agata Groyecka
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | | | | | | | - Khodabakhsh Ahmadi
- Behavioral Sciences Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ahmad M Alghraibeh
- Department of Psychology, College of Education, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Anna Bertoni
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Karim Bettache
- Department of Psychology, Monash University, Bandar Sunway, Malaysia
| | - Sheyla Blumen
- Department of Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Perú, Lima, Peru
| | | | - Tiago Bortolini
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience Unit, D'Or Institute for Research and Education, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marina Butovskaya
- Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,National Research University, Higher School of Economics, Moscow, Russia
| | - Katarzyna Cantarero
- Faculty in Sopot, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Sopot, Poland
| | - Felipe Nalon Castro
- Laboratory of Evolution of Human Behavior, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal City, Brazil
| | | | - Lei Chang
- Department of Psychology, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Bin-Bin Chen
- Department of Psychology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Diana Cunha
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Daniel David
- International Institute for the Advanced Studies of Psychotherapy and Applied Mental Health, Babes-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Oana A David
- Department of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Babes-Bolyai University Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Fahd A Dileym
- Department of Psychology, College of Education, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Silvia Donato
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Daria Dronova
- Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Seda Dural
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Izmir University of Economics, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Jitka Fialová
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Maryanne Fisher
- Department of Psychology, Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Canada
| | | | | | - Peter Hilpert
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Surrey, UK
| | - Ivana Hromatko
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Raffaella Iafrate
- Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Mariana Iesyp
- Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Bawo James
- Department of Clinical Services, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Benin-City, Nigeria
| | | | - Feng Jiang
- Department of Organization and Human Resources Management, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing, China
| | | | - Grete Kjelvik
- Department of Medicine and Health Sciences (MH), Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Firat Koç
- Faculty of Literature, Department of Anthropology, Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey
| | - Amos Laar
- School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana
| | - Fívia de Araújo Lopes
- Laboratory of Evolution of Human Behavior, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal City, Brazil
| | - Guillermo Macbeth
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, National University of Entre Rios, Concepción del Uruguay, Argentina
| | | | - Rocio Martinez
- Department of Social Psychology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Norbert Mesko
- Institute of Psychology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary
| | | | | | | | | | - Jean Carlos Natividade
- Department of Psychology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Joseph Ntayi
- Faculty of Computing and Management Science, Makerere University Business School, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Oluyinka Ojedokun
- Department of Pure and Applied Psychology, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Nigeria
| | | | - Ike E Onyishi
- Department of Psychology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria
| | - Anna Paluszak
- Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - John D Pierce
- College of Science, Health, and the Liberal Arts, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Alda Portugal
- Department of Psychology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Centre for Social Studies, University of Madeira, Funchal, Madeira
| | - Eugenia Razumiejczyk
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Educación, National University of Entre Rios, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Anu Realo
- Institute of Psychology, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.,Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Ana Paula Relvas
- Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.,Centre for Social Studies, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria Rivas
- Universidad del Magdalena, Santa Marta, Colombia
| | - Muhammad Rizwan
- Institute of Clinical Psychology, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Svjetlana Salkicevic
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivan Sarmány-Schuller
- Center of Social and Psychological Sciences SAS, Institute of Experimental Psychology, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Susanne Schmehl
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Oksana Senyk
- Department of Psychology, Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Charlotte Sinding
- INRA, Centre des Sciences du Gout et de l'Alimentation - CSGA, Dijon, France
| | - Emma Sorbring
- Centre for Child and Youth Studies, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden
| | - Eftychia Stamkou
- Departament of Social Psychology, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stanislava Stoyanova
- Department of Psychology, South-West University "Neofit Rilski", Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
| | - Denisa Šukolová
- Educational Research Centre, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Banská Bystrica, Slovakia
| | - Nina Sutresna
- Jurusan Pendidikan Kepelatihan, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia
| | - Meri Tadinac
- Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Sombat Tapanya
- Department of Psychiatry, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | | | | | - Ritu Tripathi
- Organizational Behaviour and Human Resource Management, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, Bangalore, India
| | - Nachiketa Tripathi
- Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati, India
| | - Mamta Tripathi
- SRM Institute of Science and Technology, School of Management, Chennai, India
| | - Olja Uhryn
- Faculty of Psychology, Lviv State University of Internal Affairs, Lviv, Ukraine
| | - Maria Emília Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Evolution of Human Behavior, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal City, Brazil
| | - Gyesook Yoo
- Department of Child and Family Studies, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, South Korea
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Arnold C. Sensory Overload? Air Pollution and Impaired Olfaction. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2019; 127:62001. [PMID: 31190551 PMCID: PMC6791585 DOI: 10.1289/ehp3621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
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14
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Godoy MDCL, Fornazieri MA, Doty RL, Pinna FDR, Farfel JM, Santos GBD, Molina M, Ferretti-Rebustini REL, Leite REP, Suemoto CK, Grinberg LT, Pasqualucci CAG, Voegels RL, Nitrini R, Jacob Filho W. Is Olfactory Epithelium Biopsy Useful for Confirming Alzheimer's Disease? Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2018; 128:184-192. [PMID: 30501500 DOI: 10.1177/0003489418814865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The clinical symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are preceded by a long asymptomatic period associated with "silent" deposition of aberrant paired helical filament (PHF)-tau and amyloid-beta proteins in brain tissue. Similar depositions have been reported within the olfactory epithelium (OE), a tissue that can be biopsied in vivo. The degree to which such biopsies are useful in identifying AD is controversial. This postmortem study had 3 main goals: first, to quantify the relative densities of AD-related proteins in 3 regions of the olfactory neuroepithelium, namely, the nasal septum, middle turbinate, and superior turbinate; second, to establish whether such densities are correlated among these epithelial regions as well as with semi-quantitative ratings of general brain cortex pathology; and third, to evaluate correlations between the protein densities and measures of antemortem cognitive function. METHODS Postmortem blocks of olfactory mucosa were obtained from 12 AD cadavers and 24 controls and subjected to amyloid-beta and PHF-tau immunohistochemistry. RESULTS We observed marked heterogeneity in the presence of the biomarkers of tau and amyloid-beta among the targeted olfactory epithelial regions. No significant difference was observed between the cadavers with AD and the controls regarding the concentration of these proteins in any of these epithelial regions. Only one correlation significant was evident, namely, that between the tau protein densities of the middle and the upper turbinate (r = .58, P = .002). CONCLUSION AD-related biomarker heterogeneity, which has not been previously demonstrated, makes comparisons across studies difficult and throws into question the usefulness of OE amyloid-beta and PHF-tau biopsies in detecting AD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Aurélio Fornazieri
- Department of Surgery, Londrina State University, Londrina, Brazil, and Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Richard L Doty
- Smell and Taste Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lea T Grinberg
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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15
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Abstract
Olfaction is often viewed as difficult, yet the empirical evidence suggests a different picture. A closer look shows people around the world differ in their ability to detect, discriminate, and name odors. This gives rise to the question of what influences our ability to smell. Instead of focusing on olfactory deficiencies, this review presents a positive perspective by focusing on factors that make someone a better smeller. We consider three driving forces in improving olfactory ability: one’s biological makeup, one’s experience, and the environment. For each factor, we consider aspects proposed to improve odor perception and critically examine the evidence; as well as introducing lesser discussed areas. In terms of biology, there are cases of neurodiversity, such as olfactory synesthesia, that serve to enhance olfactory ability. Our lifetime experience, be it typical development or unique training experience, can also modify the trajectory of olfaction. Finally, our odor environment, in terms of ambient odor or culinary traditions, can influence odor perception too. Rather than highlighting the weaknesses of olfaction, we emphasize routes to harnessing our olfactory potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asifa Majid
- Centre for Language Studies, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Speed
- Centre for Language Studies, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Ilja Croijmans
- Centre for Language Studies, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; International Max Planck Research School for Language Sciences, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Artin Arshamian
- Centre for Language Studies, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Division of Psychology, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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16
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Ajmani GS, Suh HH, Pinto JM. Effects of Ambient Air Pollution Exposure on Olfaction: A Review. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2016; 124:1683-1693. [PMID: 27285588 PMCID: PMC5089874 DOI: 10.1289/ehp136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Revised: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 05/20/2016] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Olfactory dysfunction affects millions of people worldwide. This sensory impairment is associated with neurodegenerative disease and significantly decreased quality of life. Exposure to airborne pollutants has been implicated in olfactory decline, likely due to the anatomic susceptibility of the olfactory nerve to the environment. Historically, studies have focused on occupational exposures, but more recent studies have considered effects from exposure to ambient air pollutants. OBJECTIVES To examine all relevant human data evaluating a link between ambient pollution exposure and olfaction and to review supporting animal data in order to examine potential mechanisms for pollution-associated olfactory loss. METHODS We identified and reviewed relevant articles from 1950 to 2015 using PubMed and Web of Science and focusing on human epidemiologic and pathophysiologic studies. Animal studies were included only to support pertinent data on humans. We reviewed findings from these studies evaluating a relationship between environmental pollutant exposure and olfactory function. RESULTS We identified and reviewed 17 articles, with 1 additional article added from a bibliography search, for a total of 18 human studies. There is evidence in human epidemiologic and pathologic studies that increased exposure to ambient air pollutants is associated with olfactory dysfunction. However, most studies have used proxies for pollution exposure in small samples of convenience. Human pathologic studies, with supporting animal work, have also shown that air pollution can contact the olfactory epithelium, translocate to the olfactory bulb, and migrate to the olfactory cortex. Pollutants can deposit at each location, causing direct damage and disruption of tissue morphology or inducing local inflammation and cellular stress responses. CONCLUSIONS Ambient air pollution may impact human olfactory function. Additional studies are needed to examine air pollution-related olfactory impacts on the general population using measured pollution exposures and to link pollution exposure with olfactory dysfunction and related pathology. Citation: Ajmani GS, Suh HH, Pinto JM. 2016. Effects of ambient air pollution exposure on olfaction: a review. Environ Health Perspect 124:1683-1693; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP136.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurav S. Ajmani
- Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Helen H. Suh
- Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jayant M. Pinto
- Section of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Address correspondence to J.M. Pinto, Section of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences, MC103, 5841 South Maryland Ave., Chicago, IL 60647 USA. Telephone: (773) 702-6727. E-mail:
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17
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Abstract
Insights into risk factors for olfactory decline are needed, because knowledge about its origin is limited. This impairment has important implications for human health. Several epidemiologic studies of olfaction provide insight into the prevalence of olfactory disorders. Here, we review the major population studies carried out on this topic to date. Our purpose is to characterize knowledge about olfactory disorders from human studies. We also describe the existing methods for measuring the sense of smell in population studies, present recent insights into the epidemiology of smell disorders, and discuss the risk factors identified to date. Synthesis of these data shows that olfactory dysfunction increases as people age and is worse in men. Further study of olfaction is warranted for gaining better information on the etiologies affecting its impairment, research that will have a large public health impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingpu Yang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, 218 Ziqiang Street, Changchun, Jilin Province, 130041, China
| | - Jayant M Pinto
- Section of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, The University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, MC1035, Chicago, IL 60637
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18
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Millar Vernetti P, Rossi M, Cerquetti D, Perez Lloret S, Merello M. Comparison of Olfactory Identification Patterns among Parkinson’s Disease Patients from Different Countries. Chem Senses 2015; 41:77-83. [DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjv062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
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19
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Sorokowska A, Sorokowski P, Frackowiak T. Determinants of human olfactory performance: a cross-cultural study. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 506-507:196-200. [PMID: 25460952 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2014] [Revised: 11/04/2014] [Accepted: 11/06/2014] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Olfaction allows us to detect subtle changes in our environment, but sensitivity of the sense of smell varies among individuals. Although a significant number of research papers discuss the relationship between olfactory abilities and environmental factors, most studies have been conducted on Western populations or in developed Asian societies. The potential environmental and cultural determinants of olfactory acuity warrant further exploration. In the current study, we compared previously published data on olfaction in an industrialized, modern society (i.e., Europeans) and an indigenous society living in unpolluted, natural environmental conditions (i.e., Tsimane'), with novel data on the olfactory acuity of inhabitants of the Cook Islands. Like the European population (and contrary to the Tsimane'), the Cook Islands people form a modern society, and like the Tsimane' population (and contrary to the Europeans), they live in an unpolluted region. Thus, these comparisons enabled us to independently assess the importance of both air pollution and changes in lifestyle for olfactory abilities in modern societies. Our results indicate that people from the Cook Islands had significantly higher olfactory acuity (i.e., lower thresholds of odor detection) than did Europeans and Tsimane' people. Interestingly, the olfactory sensitivity of Europeans was significantly lower than the olfactory sensitivity of the remaining two groups. Our data suggest that air pollution is an important factor in the deterioration of the sense of smell. However, it is also possible that factors such as agricultural and/or cooking practices, alcohol consumption, and access to medical service may also influence olfactory acuity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Sorokowska
- Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany; Institute of Psychology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland.
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20
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Guarneros M, Hudson R, López-Palacios M, Drucker-Colín R. Reference Values of Olfactory Function for Mexico City Inhabitants. Arch Med Res 2015; 46:84-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2014.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 12/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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21
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[Polish version of the Sniffin' Sticks Test - adaptation and normalization]. Otolaryngol Pol 2014; 68:308-14. [PMID: 25168274 DOI: 10.1016/j.otpol.2014.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2014] [Revised: 07/29/2014] [Accepted: 08/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sniffin' Sticks Test (SST) is a complex smell test, enabling the diagnosis of various aspects of olfactory sensitivity. It is one of the most popular tools for olfactory testing all over the world; however, so far it has not been commonly used in Poland. AIM The presented study had the following aims: assessment of the applicability of the SST in Poland, adaptation of the identification subtest, normalization of the whole battery and comparison of the Polish results to the norms in the original tool. MATERIALS AND METHODS We tested olfactory sensitivity of 281 healthy volunteers aged 18-87 years. We used the full version of the SST (threshold, discrimination and identification subtests). RESULTS The results of the presented study are the modified version of the identification test response questionnaire and clearly defined normative values for the Polish people of different ages. Normative values and results in Poland were not significantly different from the previously reported findings for the original, German tool. Additionally, consistent with previous reports, olfactory sensitivity of the eldest group of the Polish people was lower than performance in younger age groups. CONCLUSIONS The presented findings suggest that the adapted version of the Sniffin' Sticks Test might be used for both medical and research purposes in Poland.
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22
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Yoder WM, Stratis K, Pattanaik S, Molina A, Nguyen J, Weisberg S, Smith DW. Time Course of Perceptual Adaptation Differs among Odorants. J SENS STUD 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/joss.12074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wendy M. Yoder
- Program in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology; University of Florida; Gainesville FL 32611
| | - Kyle Stratis
- Program in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology; University of Florida; Gainesville FL 32611
| | - Sweta Pattanaik
- Department of Biology; University of Florida; Gainesville FL 32611
| | - Alex Molina
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; University of Florida; Gainesville FL 32611
| | - Jennifer Nguyen
- Department of Biology; University of Florida; Gainesville FL 32611
| | - Stephanie Weisberg
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition; University of Florida; Gainesville FL 32611
| | - David W. Smith
- Program in Behavioral and Cognitive Neuroscience, Department of Psychology; University of Florida; Gainesville FL 32611
- Center for Smell and Taste; University of Florida; Gainesville FL 32611
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Guarneros M, Ortiz-Romo N, Alcaraz-Zubeldia M, Drucker-Colin R, Hudson R. Nonoccupational Environmental Exposure to Manganese is Linked to Deficits in Peripheral and Central Olfactory Function. Chem Senses 2013; 38:783-91. [DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjt045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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Sorokowska A, Sorokowski P, Hummel T, Huanca T. Olfaction and environment: Tsimane' of Bolivian rainforest have lower threshold of odor detection than industrialized German people. PLoS One 2013; 8:e69203. [PMID: 23922693 PMCID: PMC3726727 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2013] [Accepted: 06/03/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Olfactory sensitivity varies between individuals. However, data regarding cross-cultural and inter-group differences are scarce. We compared the thresholds of odor detection of the traditional society of Tsimane' (native Amazonians of the Bolivian rainforest; n = 151) and people living in Dresden (Germany; n = 286) using "Sniffin' Sticks" threshold subtest. Tsimane' detected n-butanol at significantly lower concentrations than the German subjects. The distribution of thresholds of the Tsimane' was very specific, with 25% of Tsimane' obtaining better results in the olfactory test than any member of the German group. These data suggest that differences in olfactory sensitivity seem to be especially salient between industrialized and non-industrialized populations inhabiting different environmental conditions. We hypothesize that the possible sources of such differences are: (i) the impact of pollution which impairs the olfactory abilities of people from industrialized countries; (ii) better training of olfaction because of the higher importance of smell in traditional populations; (iii) environmental pressures shaping olfactory abilities in these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas Hummel
- Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Tomas Huanca
- Centro boliviano de Investigación y de Desarrollo Socio Integral, Correo Central, San Borja, Beni, Bolivia
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25
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Greenberg MI, Curtis JA, Vearrier D. The perception of odor is not a surrogate marker for chemical exposure: a review of factors influencing human odor perception. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2013; 51:70-6. [PMID: 23387344 DOI: 10.3109/15563650.2013.767908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Clinical toxicologists perform risk assessments and clinical evaluations for patients with potential exposure to airborne toxicants in which the patient's self-reported perception of odor may be the only indicator that an exposure may have taken place. OBJECTIVE To review the factors that may affect the human ability to perceive chemical odors and relate those odors to specific chemical exposures. METHODS The medical literature, from 1950 through 2012, was searched using the OVID database and the PUBMED database. The searches returned 238 articles, of which 113 involved human studies and were published in the English language. Of these 113 articles, 40 articles discussed odor issues and thus were chosen as specifically relevant to the topic. Bibliographies of all articles were also searched for other relevant references and this found six additional articles, making a total of 46. FACTORS THAT MAY AFFECT OLFACTION AND THE ABILITY TO PERCEIVE ODOR: Genetic/population: Ethnic background is associated with widely differing odor detection abilities and thresholds. A significant genetic influence for the ability to smell and perceive odor has been reported. Gender: Women are superior to men in their ability to identify odors. Age. Increasing age is correlated with higher odor detection thresholds. Medical conditions: A variety of medical conditions have been associated with deficits in olfaction, including diseases of the nose and sinuses, multiple sclerosis, and schizophrenia. Alcoholism and smoking: Abuse of alcohol results in impaired olfactory sense, and smoking tobacco products alters odor detection threshold in a dose-related manner. Occupational and environmental factors: Repeated inhalation of any chemical results in olfactory fatigue over relatively short time frames that leads to a decreased ability to accurately detect and identify an odor. Recent exposure to relatively high concentrations of a chemical has been shown to affect sensitivity to that particular odorant, altering subsequent detection thresholds by up to three orders of magnitude. Applicability of proposed odor thresholds: Humans are only able to identify three to four components of complex olfactory mixtures and the odorants present in the mixture affect which individual components are detected. Odorants present in suprathreshold concentrations in a mixture may effectively mask the presence of odorants present in perithreshold concentrations. Self-rating of olfactory function may not correlate with actual olfactory ability. It is even more difficult to accurately determine intensity of an odor in a quantifiable way. For example, under conditions of constant stimulation with hydrogen sulfide, perceptual intensity was reported to decrease exponentially with time of stimulation. Concomitant visual stimulation also affects odor intensity. Some chemicals, such as hydrogen sulfide, may induce reactions in humans related solely to their odor, even when they are present in concentrations substantially lower than those levels usually associated with the development of adverse clinical effects. There is a wealth of literature suggesting that the intensity of perceived odor, the degree of irritation, and the reported health effects of exposure to an odorant chemical are affected by psychological state and bias. Multiple theories have been proposed to explain the cognitive basis for perceived illness in association with the perception of odor. The concept of odor has been reported to be intrinsically and cognitively associated with illness rather than with health. Assigning negative bias to an odor prior to an exposure results in the reporting of significantly more health-related symptoms following exposure. This suggests that those symptoms are not mediated by the odor directly, but rather by an individual's cognitive associations between odor and health. CONCLUSIONS Attempts to verify exposure intensity based on the report of a perceived odor is unreliable and has no useful application in legitimate exposure assessment paradigms. Detection of an odor does not imply a medically significant exposure to a toxicant and, due to subject bias and the difficulty of detecting individual odorants in mixtures, may not constitute an exposure to the purported substance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael I Greenberg
- Division of Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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27
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Hummel C, Zucco GM, Iannilli E, Maboshe W, Landis BN, Hummel T. OLAF: standardization of international olfactory tests. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2011; 269:871-80. [DOI: 10.1007/s00405-011-1770-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2011] [Accepted: 09/08/2011] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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Altman KW, Desai SC, Moline J, de la Hoz RE, Herbert R, Gannon PJ, Doty RL. Odor identification ability and self-reported upper respiratory symptoms in workers at the post-9/11 World Trade Center site. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2011; 84:131-7. [PMID: 20589388 PMCID: PMC10032580 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-010-0556-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2009] [Accepted: 06/16/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Following the World Trade Center (WTC) collapse on September 11, 2001, more than 40,000 people were exposed to a complex mixture of inhalable nanoparticles and toxic chemicals. While many developed chronic respiratory symptoms, to what degree olfaction was compromised is unclear. A previous WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program study found that olfactory and nasal trigeminal thresholds were altered by the toxic exposure, but not scores on a 20-odor smell identification test. OBJECTIVES To employ a well-validated 40-item smell identification test to definitively establish whether the ability to identify odors is compromised in a cohort of WTC-exposed individuals and, if so, whether the degree of compromise is associated with self-reported severity of rhinitic symptoms. METHODS The University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT) was administered to 99 WTC-exposed persons and 99 matched normal controls. The Sino-Nasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-20) was administered to the 99 WTC-exposed persons and compared to the UPSIT scores. RESULTS The mean (SD) UPSIT scores were lower in the WTC-exposed group than in age-, sex-, and smoking history-matched controls [respective scores: 30.05 (5.08) vs 35.94 (3.76); p = 0.003], an effect present in a subgroup of 19 subjects additionally matched on occupation (p < 0.001). Fifteen percent of the exposed subjects had severe microsmia, but only 3% anosmia. SNOT-20 scores were unrelated to UPSIT scores (r = 0.20; p = 0.11). CONCLUSION Exposure to WTC air pollution was associated with a decrement in the ability to identify odors, implying that such exposure had a greater influence on smell function than previously realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth W Altman
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, One Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1189, New York, NY 10029, USA.
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29
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Seo HS, Guarneros M, Hudson R, Distel H, Min BC, Kang JK, Croy I, Vodicka J, Hummel T. Attitudes toward Olfaction: A Cross-regional Study. Chem Senses 2010; 36:177-87. [PMID: 20956734 DOI: 10.1093/chemse/bjq112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to determine whether there are regional influences on attitudes toward olfaction. A total of 1082 participants aged 21-50 years from 4 different regions (Mexican, Korean, Czech, and German) were asked to rate general attitudes toward olfaction in everyday life. To examine affective attitudes to odors (i.e., pleasantness), participants were also asked to list 3 odors as being the most pleasant or unpleasant, respectively. Next, the mentioned odor names were attributed to 1 of 4 main categories: "Food & Drink," "Social relationship," "Nature," and "Civilization" and the distribution of these categories was compared across regions. Mexicans were significantly different to the other regions in their general attitudes toward olfaction. In addition, in all regions, in comparison with men, women indicated a higher interest in the sense of smell. Moreover, a significant positive correlation was present between individuals' self-rating of olfactory sensitivity and general attitudes toward olfaction. Finally, there were significant cross-regional differences in affective attitudes toward specific categories of odors. In conclusion, our findings support and extend the notion that regions affect attitudes toward the olfactory world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han-Seok Seo
- Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Dresden Medical School, Dresden, Germany
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Dalton PH, Opiekun RE, Gould M, McDermott R, Wilson T, Maute C, Ozdener MH, Zhao K, Emmett E, Lees PSJ, Herbert R, Moline J. Chemosensory loss: functional consequences of the world trade center disaster. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2010; 118:1251-6. [PMID: 20478761 PMCID: PMC2944085 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1001924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2010] [Accepted: 05/13/2010] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals involved in rescue, recovery, demolition, and cleanup at the World Trade Center (WTC) site were exposed to a complex mixture of airborne smoke, dust, combustion gases, acid mists, and metal fumes. Such exposures have the potential to impair nasal chemosensory (olfactory and trigeminal) function. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of chemosensory dysfunction and nasal inflammation among these individuals. METHODS We studied 102 individuals who worked or volunteered at the WTC site in the days and weeks during and after 11 September 2001 (9/11) and a comparison group with no WTC exposure matched to each participant on age, sex, and job title. Participants were comprehensively evaluated for chemosensory function and nasal inflammation in a single session. Individual exposure history was obtained from self-reported questionnaires. RESULTS The prevalence of olfactory and trigeminal nerve sensitivity loss was significantly greater in the WTC-exposed group relative to the comparison group [prevalence ratios (95% confidence intervals) = 1.96 (1.2-3.3) and 3.28 (2.7-3.9) for odor and irritation thresholds, respectively]. Among the WTC responders, however, individuals caught in the dust cloud from the collapse on 9/11 exhibited the most profound trigeminal loss. Analysis of the nasal lavage samples supported the clinical findings of chronic nasal inflammation among the WTC-exposed cohort. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of significant chemosensory impairment in the WTC-exposed group more than 2 years after their exposure raises concerns for these individuals when the ability to detect airborne odors or irritants is a critical safety factor. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE This outcome highlights the need for chemosensory evaluations among individuals with exposure to acute high or chronic levels of airborne pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela H Dalton
- Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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