Exposure study to examine chemosensory effects of ɛ-caprolactam in healthy men and women
Context: ε-Caprolactam is an important industrial chemical with a relatively low human toxicity; of importance is the irritations that occur after exposure to ε-caprolactam as aerosols or vapors.Objective: The aim of this study was to examine symptoms and objective effects, which occur on the mucous...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article (Journal) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
19 September 2016
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| In: |
Inhalation toxicology
Year: 2016, Volume: 28, Issue: 12, Pages: 561-571 |
| ISSN: | 1091-7691 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/08958378.2016.1227888 |
| Online Access: | Verlag, Volltext: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08958378.2016.1227888 Verlag, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1080/08958378.2016.1227888 
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| Author Notes: | Gerhard Triebig, Isabel Triebig-Heller, Thomas Bruckner |
| Summary: | Context: ε-Caprolactam is an important industrial chemical with a relatively low human toxicity; of importance is the irritations that occur after exposure to ε-caprolactam as aerosols or vapors.Objective: The aim of this study was to examine symptoms and objective effects, which occur on the mucous membranes of the eyes and the upper respiratory tract.Methods: A total of 52 healthy volunteers (26 women and 26 men, aged between 19 and 50 years) were exposed by random to different ε-caprolactam concentrations (0.05, 0.5 and 5.0 mg/m³) and the control condition (0.0 mg/m³) for 6 h on four consecutive days. Eye blinking frequency, tear film break-up time, eye redness, nasal flows and resistance, olfactory function as well as total protein and interleukin-8 in nasal lavage fluid were determined daily before, during and after exposure. Questionnaires were used to record both subjective symptoms and personality factors.Results: There were no significant specific effects on the subjective and objective endpoints examined. Statistical analysis yielded no evidence of concentration-response relationships. Evaluation of olfactory symptoms showed that the duration of the stay in the chamber and not the ε-caprolactam concentration was decisive for the perception of “impure air”. Personality factors had no significant influence on the reported symptoms.Conclusions: Exposure to ε-caprolactam concentrations of 5.0 mg/m³ at maximum for 6 h did not cause chemosensory effects on the upper respiratory tract or eyes of healthy volunteers. Therefore, the concentration of 5.0 mg/m³ corresponds to the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL). |
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| Item Description: | Gesehen am 29.11.2017 |
| Physical Description: | Online Resource |
| ISSN: | 1091-7691 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/08958378.2016.1227888 |