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Kleinbeck S, Wolkoff P. Exposure limits for indoor volatile substances concerning the general population: The role of population-based differences in sensory irritation of the eyes and airways for assessment factors. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:617-662. [PMID: 38243103 PMCID: PMC10861400 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03642-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Assessment factors (AFs) are essential in the derivation of occupational exposure limits (OELs) and indoor air quality guidelines. The factors shall accommodate differences in sensitivity between subgroups, i.e., workers, healthy and sick people, and occupational exposure versus life-long exposure for the general population. Derivation of AFs itself is based on empirical knowledge from human and animal exposure studies with immanent uncertainty in the empirical evidence due to knowledge gaps and experimental reliability. Sensory irritation in the eyes and airways constitute about 30-40% of OELs and is an abundant symptom in non-industrial buildings characterizing the indoor air quality and general health. Intraspecies differences between subgroups of the general population should be quantified for the proposal of more 'empirical' based AFs. In this review, we focus on sensitivity differences in sensory irritation about gender, age, health status, and vulnerability in people, based solely on human exposure studies. Females are more sensitive to sensory irritation than males for few volatile substances. Older people appear less sensitive than younger ones. However, impaired defense mechanisms may increase vulnerability in the long term. Empirical evidence of sensory irritation in children is rare and limited to children down to the age of six years. Studies of the nervous system in children compared to adults suggest a higher sensitivity in children; however, some defense mechanisms are more efficient in children than in adults. Usually, exposure studies are performed with healthy subjects. Exposure studies with sick people are not representative due to the deselection of subjects with moderate or severe eye or airway diseases, which likely underestimates the sensitivity of the group of people with diseases. Psychological characterization like personality factors shows that concentrations of volatile substances far below their sensory irritation thresholds may influence the sensitivity, in part biased by odor perception. Thus, the protection of people with extreme personality traits is not feasible by an AF and other mitigation strategies are required. The available empirical evidence comprising age, lifestyle, and health supports an AF of not greater than up to 2 for sensory irritation. Further, general AFs are discouraged for derivation, rather substance-specific derivation of AFs is recommended based on the risk assessment of empirical data, deposition in the airways depending on the substance's water solubility and compensating for knowledge and experimental gaps. Modeling of sensory irritation would be a better 'empirical' starting point for derivation of AFs for children, older, and sick people, as human exposure studies are not possible (due to ethical reasons) or not generalizable (due to self-selection). Dedicated AFs may be derived for environments where dry air, high room temperature, and visually demanding tasks aggravate the eyes or airways than for places in which the workload is balanced, while indoor playgrounds might need other AFs due to physical workload and affected groups of the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Kleinbeck
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Peder Wolkoff
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Salthammer T. TVOC - Revisited. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 167:107440. [PMID: 35932535 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND TVOC (total volatile organic compounds) has been used as a sum parameter in indoor air sciences for over 40 years. In the beginning, individual VOC concentrations determined by gas chromatography were simply added together. However, several methods for calculating TVOC have become established over time. METHODS To understand the manifold definitions of TVOC, one must trace the history of indoor air sciences and analytical chemistry. Therefore, in this work, the original approaches of TVOC are searched and explained. A detailed description of the measurement methods is followed by a critical evaluation of the various TVOC values and their possible applications. The aim is to give the reader a deeper understanding of TVOC in order to use this parameter correctly and to be able to better assess published results. In addition, related sum values such as TSVOC and TVVOC are also addressed. RESULTS A milestone was the analytical definition of VOCs and TVOC in 1997. A list of VOCs that should at least be considered when calculating TVOC was also provided. This list represented the status at that time, is no longer up-to-date and is being updated by a European working group as part of a harmonization process. However, there is still confusion about the exact definition and reasonable application of TVOC. The signals of other sum parameters, measured with photoacoustics, flame ionization, photoionization or electrochemical sensors, are also often given under the term TVOC. CONCLUSIONS It was recognized early that TVOC is not a toxicologically based parameter and is therefore only suitable for a limited number of screening purposes. Consequently, TVOC cannot be used in connection with health-related and odor-related issues. Nevertheless, such references are repeatedly made, which has led to controversial scientific discussions and even court decisions in Germany about the correct and improper use of TVOC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tunga Salthammer
- Fraunhofer WKI, Department of Material Analysis and Indoor Chemistry, Bienroder Weg 54 E, 38108 Braunschweig, Germany.
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Junge KM, Buchenauer L, Elter E, Butter K, Kohajda T, Herberth G, Röder S, Borte M, Kiess W, von Bergen M, Simon JC, Rolle-Kampczyk UE, Lehmann I, Gminski R, Ohlmeyer M, Polte T. Wood emissions and asthma development: Results from an experimental mouse model and a prospective cohort study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 151:106449. [PMID: 33611105 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increased use of renewable resources like sustainably produced wood in construction or for all sorts of long-lived products is considered to contribute to reducing society's carbon footprint. However, as a natural, biological material, wood and wood products emit specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Therefore, the evaluation of possible health effects due to wood emissions is of major interest. OBJECTIVES We investigated the effects of an exposure to multiple wood-related VOCs on asthma development. METHODS A murine asthma model was used to evaluate possible allergic and inflammatory effects on the lung after short- or long-term and perinatal exposure to pinewood or oriented strand board (OSB). In addition, wood-related VOCs were measured within the German prospective mother-child cohort LINA and their joint effect on early wheezing or asthma development in children until the age of 10 was estimated by Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) stratifying also for family history of atopy (FHA). RESULTS Our experimental data show that neither pinewood nor OSB emissions even at high total VOC levels and a long-lasting exposure period induce significant inflammatory or asthma-promoting effects in sensitized or non-sensitized mice. Moreover, an exposure during the vulnerable time window around birth was also without effect. Consistently, in our mother-child cohort LINA, an exposure to multiple wood-related VOCs during pregnancy or the first year of life was not associated with early wheezing or asthma development in children independent from their FHA. CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that emissions from wood and wood products at levels commonly occurring in the living environment do not exert adverse effects concerning wheezing or asthma development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin M Junge
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Department of Environmental Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lisa Buchenauer
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Department of Environmental Immunology, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Leipzig University Medical Center, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Elena Elter
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Department of Environmental Immunology, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Leipzig University Medical Center, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Katja Butter
- Thünen Institute of Wood Research, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Tibor Kohajda
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Department of Molecular Systems Biology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gunda Herberth
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Department of Environmental Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefan Röder
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Department of Environmental Immunology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Michael Borte
- Children's Hospital, Municipal Hospital "St. Georg", Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wieland Kiess
- University of Leipzig, Hospital for Children and Adolescents - Centre for Pediatric Research, Leipzig, Germany; University of Leipzig, LIFE - Leipzig Research Centre for Civilization Diseases, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin von Bergen
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Department of Molecular Systems Biology, Leipzig, Germany; University of Leipzig, Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jan C Simon
- Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Leipzig University Medical Center, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ulrike E Rolle-Kampczyk
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Department of Molecular Systems Biology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Irina Lehmann
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Environmental Epigenetics and Lung Research Group, Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Molecular Epidemiology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Richard Gminski
- Institute for Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology, Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | | | - Tobias Polte
- UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Department of Environmental Immunology, Leipzig, Germany; Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Leipzig University Medical Center, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
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Caimmi D, Neukirch C, Demoly P. Essential oils: what is the clinical tolerance in asthmatic patients? J Asthma 2021; 59:934-936. [PMID: 33577354 DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2021.1888975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Essential oils in air-spray form are being more and more used for several purposes, even by allergic and asthmatic patients. Available data on the potentially dangerous effects of volatile organic compounds and terpenes contained in essential oils are scarce, and sometimes difficult to compare. Through the present work, we evaluated the clinical tolerance of asthmatic patients exposed to compounds emitted by an essential oils spray, and compared previous and new data available in the scientific literature, focusing on the aspects that may influence clinical results.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Caimmi
- Allergy Unit, Department of Pulmonology, CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,IDESP, UMR Inserm, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - C Neukirch
- Service de Pneumologie A, Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard, Paris, France.,Inserm U 1152, Faculté de Médecine Paris Diderot, Paris, France
| | - P Demoly
- Allergy Unit, Department of Pulmonology, CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,IDESP, UMR Inserm, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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Salonen H, Salthammer T, Morawska L. Human exposure to air contaminants in sports environments. INDOOR AIR 2020; 30:1109-1129. [PMID: 32657456 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this review was to investigate human exposure to relevant indoor air contaminants, predictors affecting the levels, and the means to reduce the harmful exposure in indoor sports facilities. Our study revealed that the contaminants of primary concern are the following: particulate matter in indoor climbing, golf, and horse riding facilities; carbon dioxide and particulate matter in fitness centers, gymnasiums, and sports halls; Staphylococci on gymnasium surfaces; nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide in ice hockey arenas; carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide(s), and particulate matter in motor sports arenas; and disinfection by-products in indoor chlorinated swimming pools. Means to reduce human exposure to indoor contaminants include the following: adequate mechanical ventilation with filters, suitable cleaning practices, a limited number of occupants in fitness centers and gymnasiums, the use of electric resurfacers instead of the engine powered resurfacers in ice hockey arenas, carefully regulated chlorine and temperature levels in indoor swimming pools, properly ventilated pools, and good personal hygiene. Because of the large number of susceptible people in these facilities, as well as all active people having an increased respiratory rate and airflow velocity, strict air quality requirements in indoor sports facilities should be maintained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi Salonen
- Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, Espoo, Finland
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Tunga Salthammer
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Material Analysis and Indoor Chemistry, Fraunhofer WKI, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Lidia Morawska
- International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from Wood and Wood-Based Panels: Methods for Evaluation, Potential Health Risks, and Mitigation. Polymers (Basel) 2020; 12:polym12102289. [PMID: 33036167 PMCID: PMC7599736 DOI: 10.3390/polym12102289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are contained in various construction materials and interior equipment. Their higher concentrations in the indoor air are associated with negative effects on human health and are disputed in terms of health risk, since people spend a considerable part of their lifetime indoors. Therefore, the presence of VOCs in indoor air is a case of concern regarding sick building syndrome (SBS). From a historical point of view, wood and wood-based panels represent a widely used material. Nevertheless, wood appears to be nowadays a product and a material of a sustainable future. Depending on wood extractives’ composition and an abundance of diverse wood species, different profiles of volatiles are emitted. In case of wood-based panels, the impact of adhesives and additives that are essentially applied aiming to adjust the panels’ properties is even enriching this cocktail of chemicals. This paper comprises the issue of VOCs emitted from wood and wood-based panels. The most abundant VOCs were summarized. The options of VOCs for analytical determination from these matrixes are described with their benefits and limitations.
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Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds from Heartwood and Sapwood of Selected Coniferous Species. FORESTS 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/f11010092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The qualitative and quantitative composition of volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted from furnishings from solid wood and all kinds of wood derivative materials depends on many factors, of which the most important is the wood species. The intraspecies and interspecies differences in VOC emission result from the differences in the chemical composition and anatomical structure of heartwood and sapwood of different species. VOC composition analysis was performed separately for heartwood and sapwood of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and European larch (Larix decidua Mill.) trees. The studies were conducted in a glass climatic chamber of 0.025 m3, equipped with a system for the monitoring and control of climatic conditions. Samples of air for analyses were collected after 3, 7, 14 and 28 days of exposure. The results provided evidence for interspecies and intraspecies differences in the qualitative and quantitative compositions of VOC. The concentration of total VOC (TVOC) released from heartwood of Scots pine was higher than that released from sapwood. For European larch and Norway spruce, the opposite relations were observed. The VOC emission from Scots pine heartwood was about 17 times higher than the emission from European larch and Norway spruce heartwood. The differences in TVOC emitted from the sapwood of samples from different species were smaller. For each of the species, the highest percentage contribution to TVOC was made by terpenes. The second highest percentage contribution in TVOC was made by compounds containing a carbonyl group, mainly aldehydes, while aromatic compounds made the third highest contribution.
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Rosenkranz D, Bünger J, Hoffmeyer F, Monsé C, van Kampen V, Raulf M, Brüning T, Sucker K. How Healthy Is Healthy? Comparison Between Self-Reported Symptoms and Clinical Outcomes in Connection with the Enrollment of Volunteers for Human Exposure Studies on Sensory Irritation Effects. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1271:49-59. [DOI: 10.1007/5584_2019_472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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Wolkoff P, Nielsen GD. Effects by inhalation of abundant fragrances in indoor air - An overview. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2017; 101:96-107. [PMID: 28126407 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2016] [Revised: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Odorous compounds (odors) like fragrances may cause adverse health effects. To assess their importance by inhalation, we have reviewed how the four major abundant and common airborne fragrances (α-pinene (APN), limonene (LIM), linalool (LIL), and eugenol (EUG)) impact the perceived indoor air quality as odor annoyance, sensory irritation and sensitization in the airways. Breathing and cardiovascular effects, and work performance, and the impact in the airways of ozone-initiated gas- and particle phase reactions products have also been assessed. Measured maximum indoor concentrations for APN, LIM and LIL are close to or above their odor thresholds, but far below their thresholds for sensory irritation in the eyes and upper airways; no information could be traced for EUG. Likewise, reported risk values for long-term effects are far above reported indoor concentrations. Human exposure studies with mixtures of APN and LIM and supported by animal inhalation models do not support sensitization of the airways at indoor levels by inhalation that include other selected fragrances. Human exposure studies, in general, indicate that reported lung function effects are likely due to the perception rather than toxic effects of the fragrances. In general, effects on the breathing rate and mood by exposure to the fragrances are inconclusive. The fragrances may increase the high-frequency heart rate variability, but aerosol exposure during cleaning activities may result in a reduction. Distractive effects influencing the work performance by fragrance/odor exposure are consistently reported, but their persistence over time is unknown. Mice inhalation studies indicate that LIM or its reaction mixture may possess anti-inflammatory properties. There is insufficient information that ozone-initiated reactions with APN or LIM at typical indoor levels cause airway effects in humans. Limited experimental information is available on long-term effects of ozone-initiated reaction products of APN and LIM at typical indoor levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peder Wolkoff
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
| | - Gunnar D Nielsen
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
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Soppa VJ, Schins RPF, Hennig F, Hellack B, Quass U, Kaminski H, Kuhlbusch TAJ, Hoffmann B, Weinmayr G. Respiratory effects of fine and ultrafine particles from indoor sources--a randomized sham-controlled exposure study of healthy volunteers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2014; 11:6871-89. [PMID: 25000149 PMCID: PMC4113851 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph110706871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Revised: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Particulate air pollution is linked to impaired respiratory health. We analyzed particle emissions from common indoor sources (candles burning (CB), toasting bread (TB), frying sausages (FS)) and lung function in 55 healthy volunteers (mean age 33.0 years) in a randomized cross-over controlled exposure study. Lung-deposited particle surface area concentration (PSC), size-specific particle number concentration (PNC) up to 10 µm, and particle mass concentration (PMC) of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 were determined during exposure (2 h). FEV1, FVC and MEF25%–75% was measured before, 4 h and 24 h after exposure. Wilcoxon-rank sum tests (comparing exposure scenarios) and mixed linear regression using particle concentrations and adjusting for personal characteristics, travel time and transportation means before exposure sessions were performed. While no effect was seen comparing the exposure scenarios and in the unadjusted model, inverse associations were found for PMC from CB and FS in relation to FEV1 and MEF25%–75%. with a change in 10 µg/m3 in PM2.5 from CB being associated with a change in FEV1 of −19 mL (95%-confidence interval:−43; 5) after 4 h. PMC from TB and PNC of UFP were not associated with lung function changes, but PSC from CB was. Elevated indoor fine particles from certain sources may be associated with small decreases in lung function in healthy adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa J Soppa
- IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Roel P F Schins
- IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Frauke Hennig
- IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Bryan Hellack
- Air Quality and Sustainable Nanotechnology Unit, Institut für Energie- und Umwelttechnik (IUTA) e.V., Bliersheimer Straße 58-60, 47229 Duisburg, Germany.
| | - Ulrich Quass
- Air Quality and Sustainable Nanotechnology Unit, Institut für Energie- und Umwelttechnik (IUTA) e.V., Bliersheimer Straße 58-60, 47229 Duisburg, Germany.
| | - Heinz Kaminski
- Air Quality and Sustainable Nanotechnology Unit, Institut für Energie- und Umwelttechnik (IUTA) e.V., Bliersheimer Straße 58-60, 47229 Duisburg, Germany.
| | - Thomas A J Kuhlbusch
- Air Quality and Sustainable Nanotechnology Unit, Institut für Energie- und Umwelttechnik (IUTA) e.V., Bliersheimer Straße 58-60, 47229 Duisburg, Germany.
| | - Barbara Hoffmann
- IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Gudrun Weinmayr
- IUF-Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Auf'm Hennekamp 50, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Wolkoff P. Indoor air pollutants in office environments: assessment of comfort, health, and performance. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2012; 216:371-94. [PMID: 22954455 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2012.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2012] [Revised: 07/28/2012] [Accepted: 08/05/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in office environments are generally too low to cause sensory irritation in the eyes and airways on the basis of estimated thresholds for sensory irritation. Furthermore, effects in the lungs, e.g. inflammatory effects, have not been substantiated at indoor relevant concentrations. Some VOCs, including formaldehyde, in combination may under certain environmental and occupational conditions result in reported sensory irritation. The odour thresholds of several VOCs are low enough to influence the perceived air quality that result in a number of acute effects from reported sensory irritation in eyes and airways and deterioration of performance. The odour perception (air quality) depends on a number of factors that may influence the odour impact. There is neither clear indication that office dust particles may cause sensory effects, even not particles spiked with glucans, aldehydes or phthalates, nor lung effects; some inflammatory effects may be observed among asthmatics. Ozone-initiated terpene reaction products may be of concern in ozone-enriched environments (≥0.1mg/m(3)) and elevated limonene concentrations, partly due to the production of formaldehyde. Ambient particles may cause cardio-pulmonary effects, especially in susceptible people (e.g. elderly and sick people); even, short-term effects, e.g. from traffic emission and candle smoke may possibly have modulating and delayed effects on the heart, but otherwise adverse effects in the airways and lung functions have not been observed. Secondary organic aerosols generated in indoor ozone-initiated terpene reactions appear not to cause adverse effects in the airways; rather the gaseous products are relevant. Combined exposure to particles and ozone may evoke effects in subgroups of asthmatics. Based on an analysis of thresholds for odour and sensory irritation selected compounds are recommended for measurements to assess the indoor air quality and to minimize reports of irritation symptoms, deteriorated performance, and cardiovascular and pulmonary effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peder Wolkoff
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Wolkoff P, Clausen PA, Larsen ST, Hammer M, Nielsen GD. Airway effects of repeated exposures to ozone-initiated limonene oxidation products as model of indoor air mixtures. Toxicol Lett 2012; 209:166-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2011.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2011] [Revised: 12/15/2011] [Accepted: 12/19/2011] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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