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NEUROTOXIC EFFECTS OF CONTROLLED EXPOSURE TO A COMPLEX MIXTURE OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Citation:
Otto, D., L. Molhave, G. Goldstein, J. O'Neil, D. House, G. Rose, J. Berntsen, W. Counts, S. Fowler, AND K. Hudwell. NEUROTOXIC EFFECTS OF CONTROLLED EXPOSURE TO A COMPLEX MIXTURE OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/1-90/001 (NTIS PB90186438), 1990.
Description:
Subjective reactions of discomfort, impaired air quality, irritation of mucosal membranes, and impaired memory have been reported in chemically sensitive subjects during exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOC's) found in new buildings. 6 normal healthy male subjects aged 18-39 were exposed for 2.75 hrs to a complex VOC mixture at 0 and 25 mg/m3. ach subject completed control and exposure sessions at one week intervals in counterbalanced order. easurements included comfort ratings of eye, nose and throat irritation, symptom questionnaire and computerized behavioral tests. ubjects found the odor of VOCs unpleasantly strong and reported that VOC exposure degraded air quality, increased headache and produced general discomfort. OC exposure did not affect performance on any behavioral tests. esults indicate that subjective reactions to VOCs arenot limited to chemically sensitive individuals since the study population is a subgroup that is probably least likely to be affected by chemical exposure.