Workgroup report: indoor chemistry and health.Chemicals present in indoor air can react with one another, either in the gas phase or on surfaces, altering the concentrations of both reactants and products. Such chemistry is often the major source of free radicals and other short-lived reactive species in indoor environments. To what extent do the products of indoor chemistry affect human health? To address this question, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, n.pr an institute of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that is responsible for assuring safe and healthful working conditions and for developing standards of safety and health. sponsored a workshop titled "Indoor Chemistry and Health" on 12-15 July 2004 at the University of California-Santa Cruz. Approximately 70 experts from eight countries participated. Objectives included enhancing communications between researchers in indoor chemistry and health professionals, as well as defining a list of priority research needs related to the topic of the workshop. The ultimate challenges in this emerging field are defining exposures to the products of indoor chemistry and developing an understanding of the links between these exposures and various health outcomes. The workshop was a step toward meeting these challenges. This summary presents the issues discussed at the workshop and the priority research needs identified by the attendees. Key words: allergies, asthma, biomarkers, environmental cancer, free radials, hydroperoxides, indoor pollutants, inhalation exposure, lung damage. Environ Health Perspect 114:442-446 (2006). doi:10.1289/chp.8271 available via http://dx.doi.org/ [Online 3 November 2005] ********** The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health, see there NIOSH Recommendations for Safety & Health Standards Agent NIOSH REL*/OSHA PEL† Health effects ) established the National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) in 1996 with input from more than 500 organizations and individuals. The indoor environment was included in the 21 NORA priority areas, and the NORA indoor environment team was established. Its goals included focusing and facilitating research that would improve the health of workers in indoor environments. To address causes and prevention of specific building-related health effects, the NORA indoor environment team conceived and sponsored a workshop titled "Indoor Chemistry and Health." Indoor chemistry is defined as reactions involving indoor pollutants, occurring either in the gas phase or on surfaces. In the absence of combustion, such chemistry is often the major source of free radicals and other short-lived reactive species in indoor environments. Approximately 70 scientists from eight countries participated in this workshop held at the University of California--Santa Cruz on 12-15 July 2004. Disciplines represented included atmospheric chemistry, chemical engineering, toxicology, medicine, epidemiology, architecture, and public health. [A full participant list can be viewed at the NIOSH NORA indoor environment website (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. 2005.] A major goal of the workshop was to promote communication between persons examining the health effects resulting from exposures to airborne pollutants and those studying outdoor and indoor chemistry. Experts from these respective disciplines made presentations, each of which was followed by group discussion. At the end of the workshop the participants were charged with developing a list of research priorities and testable hypotheses at the interface between indoor chemistry and human health. Issues Presentations and discussions focused on three broad issues: chemical reactions among indoor pollutants, potential health effects associated with inhalation exposure to the products of indoor chemistry, and techniques to study potential health effects. Much of what we summarize here comes from the presentations, for which we gratefully credit the presenters listed in the acknowledgments. Chemical reactions among indoor pollutants. Dominant indoor processes include oxidation reactions involving oxygen, ozone, hydroxyl hydroxyl /hy·drox·yl/ (hi-drok´sil) the univalent radical OH. hy·drox·yl n. The univalent radical or group OH, a characteristic component of bases, certain acids, phenols, alcohols, carboxylic , and nitrate radicals; acid--base reactions, hydrolysis hydrolysis (hīdrŏl`ĭsĭs), chemical reaction of a compound with water, usually resulting in the formation of one or more new compounds. reactions, and decomposition reactions, often promoted by ultraviolet light Ultraviolet light A portion of the light spectrum not visible to the eye. Two bands of the UV spectrum, UVA and UVB, are used to treat psoriasis and other skin diseases. and/or heat. Hydrolysis reactions are relatively slow and occur primarily on surfaces. The other processes can occur both in the gas phase and on surfaces. Characteristic times associated with air-exchange, advective ad·vec·tion n. 1. The transfer of a property of the atmosphere, such as heat, cold, or humidity, by the horizontal movement of an air mass: transport, diffusive dif·fu·sive adj. Characterized by diffusion. dif·fu sive·ly adv.dif·fu transport, and first-order kinetics are important for indoor-pollutant dynamics and affect the outcome of reactions. [O.sub.3] drives most indoor oxidative chemistry and can react at meaningful rates in the gas phase with nitric oxide nitric oxide or nitrogen monoxide, a colorless gas formed by the combustion of nitrogen and oxygen as given by the reaction: energy + N2 + O2 → 2NO; m.p. −163.6°C;; b.p. −151.8°C;. (NO), nitrogen dioxide (N[O.sub.2]), and unsaturated organic compounds (e.g., terpenoids, sesquiterpenes, unsaturated fatty acids unsaturated fatty acids, n.pl the double- or triple-bonded fatty acids contained primarily in vegetable oils and fish, which remain liquid at room temperature; linked to a reduction in the risk of developing heart disease. ) to yield excited intermediates, OH and N[O.sub.3] radicals, and oxygenated organic compounds (Weschler 2004). The use of cleaning products containing both terpenes terpenes (terˑ·pēnz), n.pl a large-sized group of unsaturated hydrocarbons with the empirical formula (C5H8)n. and glycol ethers in the presence of [O.sub.3] can lead to oxidation of the glycol ethers via OH and perhaps N[O.sub.3] (Nazaroff and Weschler 2004); resultant products may include potentially allergenic Allergenic A substance capable of causing an allergic reaction. Mentioned in: Echinococcosis peroxides and hydroperoxides (Karlberg et at. 2003). Modeling indicates that when [O.sub.3] and N[O.sub.2] are present simultaneously, indoor N[O.sub.3] may be the dominant indoor oxidant oxidant /ox·i·dant/ (ok´si-dant) the electron acceptor in an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction. ox·i·dant n. See oxidizer. ; N[O.sub.3] levels as low as 1 ppt ppt abbr. 1. parts per thousand 2. parts per trillion can compete effectively with [O.sub.3] and OH in oxidizing various terpenoids (Nazaroff and Weschler 2004). There is a need for new analytical techniques to measure the products of indoor chemistry that are short-lived, highly reactive, thermally labile labile /la·bile/ (la´bil) 1. gliding; moving from point to point over the surface; unstable; fluctuating. 2. chemically unstable. la·bile adj. 1. , or highly oxidized--"stealth" chemicals. Oxidative chemistry has likely increased indoors over the past half-century, given increasing outdoor [O.sub.3] levels, the greater indoor use of terpenoids (as odorants and cleaning products), and decreased ventilation rates. Surface-to-volume ratios are much larger indoors than outdoors (roughly 3 vs. 0.01 [m.sup.2]/[m.sup.3]), and consequently, surface reactions tend to be more important indoors than out. At the molecular level, the fundamental principles of surface chemistry are the same outdoors, indoors, and within the respiratory tract respiratory tract n. The air passages from the nose to the pulmonary alveoli, including the pharynx, larynx, trachea, and bronchi. Respiratory tract . Indoor surfaces are diverse, including building materials, wall cavities, ducts, skin, clothing, dust, and airborne particles. Ks a consequence of surface chemistry, primary species can be altered/sorbed, thereby influencing the amounts available for inhalation; many of the secondary species would not be present if indoor chemistry did not occur [e.g., products of [O.sub.3]--carpet interactions (Morrison and Nazaroff 2002; Weschler et al. 1992)]. Surface interactions influence subsequent human inhalation exposures to the constituents of environmental tobacco smoke environmental tobacco smoke (ETS/passive smoke), n the gaseous by-product of burning tobacco products, including but not limited to commercially manufactured cigarettes and cigars; contains toxic elements harmful to the health of adults and children (Nazaroff and Singer 2004); for example, acid-base chemistry influences nicotine's desorption Desorption A process in which atomic and molecular species residing on the surface of a solid leave the surface and enter the surrounding gas or vacuum. from surfaces (Destaillats et al. 2005). In the case of carpet emissions, the presence of [O.sub.3] influences aldehyde aldehyde (ăl`dəhīd) [alcohol + New Lat. dehydrogenatus=dehydrogenated], any of a class of organic compounds that contain the carbonyl group, and in which the carbonyl group is bonded to at least one hydrogen; the general emissions, with concentrations of some emitted oxidation products exceeding their odor thresholds (Morrison and Nazaroff 2002). As a consequence of sorption sorption /sorp·tion/ (sorp´shun) the process or state of being sorbed; absorption or adsorption. sorp·tion n. Adsorption or absorption. and reemission from indoor surfaces, certain pesticides and fumigants that are transported indoors can remain at elevated concentrations and/or chemically transform for days or weeks. Malathion, a pesticide judged to be safe for humans, can be oxidized oxidized having been modified by the process of oxidation. oxidized cellulose see absorbable cellulose. to malaoxon, a compound known to be toxic (Brown et al. 1993). Other issues related to chemical reactions on surfaces include the interplay between sorption and surface reactions, the potential influence of surface chemistry on air quality in damp buildings, and the aging/"regeneration" of surfaces. One of the first examples of indoor surface chemistry was the N[O.sub.2]/surface formation of nitrous acid nitrous acid /ni·trous ac·id/ (ni´trus) a weak acid, HNO2, existing only in aqueous solution. nitrous acid n. A weak inorganic acid existing only in solution or in the form of its salts. (HONO HONO Honolulu, Hawaii ) and nitric acid nitric acid, chemical compound, HNO3, colorless, highly corrosive, poisonous liquid that gives off choking red or yellow fumes in moist air. It is miscible with water in all proportions. (HN[O.sub.3]) (Pitts et al. 1985). It is now known that the resulting nitric acid on surfaces exists as an HN[O.sub.3]--[H.sub.2]O complex (Dubowski et al. 2004), yielding possible acidic, oxidizing, and nitrating surface films on interior walls. Air--water interfaces are a common feature of indoor environments, and evidence indicates that chemistry is enhanced at such interfaces. Recent molecular dynamic simulations indicate that OH can be concentrated by a factor of 6 and [O.sub.3] by a factor of 10 at such interfaces (Roeselova et al. 2004). Similar behavior has been observed for some organic species (e.g., naphthalene naphthalene (năf`thəlēn'), colorless, crystalline, solid aromatic hydrocarbon with a pungent odor. It melts at 80°C;, boils at 218°C;, and sublimes upon heating. ). Indeed, surface chemistry within buildings may be dominated by interface reactions. Building materials emit a myriad of reactive constituents and secondary products (derived from initial constituents). These include terpenoids, aliphatic aliphatic /al·i·phat·ic/ (al?i-fat´ik) pertaining to any member of one of the two major groups of organic compounds, those with a straight or branched chain structure. al·i·phat·ic adj. aldehydes, phthalates Phthalates, or phthalate esters, are a group of chemical compounds that are mainly used as plasticizers (substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility). They are chiefly used to turn polyvinyl chloride from a hard plastic into a flexible plastic. , phenol phenol (fē`nōl), C6H5OH, a colorless, crystalline solid that melts at about 41°C;, boils at 182°C;, and is soluble in ethanol and ether and somewhat soluble in water. , mono- and dicarboxylic acids, diisocyanates, and various photoinitiators (Salthammer et al. 2002). An example of secondary emissions occurs in houses constructed with wooden studs treated with pentachlorophenol pentachlorophenol a wood preservative with great capacity to enter the body by any route, including percutaneously; causes weight loss, low milk production and general debility. (PCP PCP abbr. 1. phencyclidine 2. primary care physician Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) ). Over time, PCP is transformed to tetrachloroanisole, giving occupants a highly undesirable odor (Gunschera et al. 2004). So-called "ecologic" or "green" products are not necessarily free from adverse health effects; certain constituents such as terpenoids and linseed oil may be more chemically reactive than those from nonecologic products. Secondary emissions from such products may pose a greater health risk than the compounds for which their precursors are substitutes. Thermal-desorption particle-beam mass spectrometry mass spectrometry or mass spectroscopy Analytic technique by which chemical substances are identified by sorting gaseous ions by mass using electric and magnetic fields. has identified some of the more reactive products resulting from reactions of [O.sub.3] and N[O.sub.3] radicals with linear and cyclic alkenes (Ziemann 2002, 2003). Many of these products are relatively unstable and would not have been detected using conventional gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric methods. Alcohols, carbonyls, and carboxylic acids enhance the formation of secondary ozonides, as well as alkoxy and acyloxy hydroperoxides, from stabilized Criegee intermediates formed in [O.sub.3]--alkene reactions (Docherty et al. 2004). In other reaction pathways, carbonyls and carboxylic acids promote peroxyhemiacetal and polymer formation. Exploration of N[O.sub.3] radical--alkene reactions has revealed that many products are multifunctional nitroxy, carbonyl carbonyl /car·bon·yl/ (kahr´bah-nil) the bivalent organic radical, C:O, characteristic of aldehydes, ketones, carboxylic acid, and esters. car·bon·yl n. The bivalent radical CO. , hydroxyl, and hydroperoxyl compounds. Some of the oxidation reaction products have vapor pressures low enough to lead to increased particle formation via molecular condensation (Ziemann 2002). There are numerous gaps in our knowledge concerning indoor reactants and their products. A current need is measurements of the concentrations of OH, N[O.sub.3], H[O.sub.2], and methytperoxy (C[H.sub.3][O.sub.2]) radicals under different indoor conditions for better understanding of their indoor chemistry (Sarwar et al. 2004). Indoor chlorine and chlorine oxide (HOCl, Cl[O.sub.2]) chemistry has not received much attention; emission sources for such compounds include treated tap water, bleach, and other cleaners. Anecdotal evidence exists for reactions between Cl[O.sub.2] from tap water and new carpet leading to unpleasant odors. Chemical transformations occurring within heating, ventilating ventilating Natural or mechanically induced movement of fresh air into or through an enclosed space. The hazards of poor ventilation were not clearly understood until the early 20th century. Expired air may be laden with odors, heat, gases, or dust. , and air conditioning systems or in the immediate vicinity of the breathing zone ("near-head" chemistry) are potentially important but have been little explored. Over time, additives in consumer products undergo chemical transformations (e.g., diphthalate esters hydrolyzing to alcohols and monoesters). However, the health consequences of exposure to such transformation products are largly unknown. Additionally, the ongoing introduction of new compounds into the indoor environment necessitates continual study of indoor emissions. Potential health effects associated with inhalation exposure to the products of indoor chemistry. Organic compounds routinely measured in indoor air only partially, if at all, explain irritation complaints by building occupants (Wolkoff and Nielsen 2001). There needs to be a shift from what scientists can readily measure to what truly needs to be measured to improve exposure assessments, evaluations of health impacts, and regulations. Stealth chemicals derived from indoor chemistry may be partly responsible for sensory effects (Weschler and Shields 1997; Wolkoff and Nielsen 2001). Epidemiologic studies support this hypothesis (Bluyssen et al. 1996; Sundell et al. 1993). For example, Sundell et al. (1993), in a study of 86 rooms in 29 office buildings, found that levels of "lost" total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) (lower TVOC TVOC Total Volatile Organic Compounds TVOC Thames Valley Orienteering Club TVOC The Vulcan Operating Company (UK) TVOC Television Operations Center concentrations in the room air than in the supply air) were inversely proportional to sick-building-syndrome symptoms. The strong association between lost TVOCs and occupant symptoms provided some of the earliest evidence for an association between chemical transformations of indoor pollutants and adverse health effects. Human sensitivity to complex mixtures of short- and long-lived radicals, ozonides, organic adds, and other oxygenated intermediates species remains unknown. Using a mouse bioassay Bioassay A method for the quantitation of the effects on a biological system by its exposure to a substance, as well as the quantitation of the concentration of a substance by some observable effect on a biological system. , researchers have demonstrated that terpene terpene /ter·pene/ (ter´pen) any hydrocarbon of the formula C10H16. ter·pene n. Any of various unsaturated hydrocarbons in essential oils and certain resins of plants and used in organic oxidation products--in the [O.sub.3]/ R-limonene, [O.sub.3]/[alpha]-pinene, and [O.sub.3]/isoprene systems--are more irritating to the upper airways than are terpenes or [O.sub.3] alone (Rohr et al. 2002; Wolkoff et al. 1999). The currently identified oxidation products are insufficient to fully explain the irritation response, and unidentified oxidation products could be contributing to the effects. Shott-lived species may be responsible, because the bioresponse was diminished in experiments conducted at higher relative humidity and with longer reaction times (Wilkins et al. 2003). In one study, women in their late 20s, with no serious sensitivities, were exposed to a mixture of 40 ppb of [O.sub.3] and 23 VOCs including two terpenes, the same mixture without [O.sub.3], or air with a lower concentration of the VOC (Vertical Online Community) See vertical portal. mixture (Fiedler et al. 2002). Monitored responses were both psychological (symptoms, odor ratings) and physiologic (lung function; neuroendocrine neuroendocrine /neu·ro·en·do·crine/ (-en´do-krin) pertaining to neural and endocrine influence, and particularly to the interaction between the nervous and endocrine systems. neu·ro·en·do·crine adj. , neurobehavioral, and inflammatory markers). The mixture that included [O.sub.3] had significantly higher concentrations of formaldehyde, glyoxal, hydrogen peroxide, and secondary organic aerosols. Nonetheless, participant responses were similar regardless of exposure condition. Hence, for the time scale (~ 2 hr) and sensitivity of these experiments, there was no pronounced association between exposure to the products of indoor chemistry and the effects monitored in this study. Human eye exposures have been used as a tool for evaluating exposures to products of [O.sub.3]/alkene chemistry. No change in blink frequency (BF) was observed for [O.sub.3] or limonene lim·o·nene n. A liquid, C10H16, with a characteristic lemonlike fragrance, used as a solvent, wetting agent, and dispersing agent and in the manufacture of resins. alone or the [O.sub.3]/isoprene mixture, but there was a significant increase in BF upon exposure to a mixture of [O.sub.3]/limonene or [O.sub.3]/N[O.sub.2] (Kleno and Wolkoff 2004). Increased relative humidity decreased BF. Additional factors to examine are the role of flee radicals as well as fine and ultrafine particles in blinking and eye irritation, BF response versus chemical product concentrations, the physiologic mechanisms, and the nature of chemicals that disrupt the tear film. An overarching question is whether eye blink rates provide an early warning of a health effect. The anatomy of the upper airway and its responses to irritants such as [O.sub.3] and chlorine are relevant to potential health effects caused by products of indoor chemistry (Shusterman 2003; Shusterman and Avila 2003). Considering the airways as a collection and filtering system designed to condition air for use by the human body allows for discrete compartmentalization based on function. The water solubility of a pollutant influences its impact on the airway: The most water-soluble chemicals affect the eyes, nose, and throat; less water-soluble chemicals affect the middle airway (bronchial tubes); and the least watersoluble chemicals affect the lower airway (deep lung and alveoli Alveoli Small air sacs or cavities in the lung that give the tissue a honeycomb appearance and expand its surface area for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. ). There is evidence that inhaled oxidant pollutants produce oxidative stress coupled with up-regulation of inflammatory cytokine Cytokine Any of a group of soluble proteins that are released by a cell to send messages which are delivered to the same cell (autocrine), an adjacent cell (paracrine), or a distant cell (endocrine). production in the airways of asthmatics. Genetic polymorphisms in key antioxidant antioxidant, substance that prevents or slows the breakdown of another substance by oxygen. Synthetic and natural antioxidants are used to slow the deterioration of gasoline and rubber, and such antioxidants as vitamin C (ascorbic acid), butylated hydroxytoluene enzymes may predict susceptibility to cytotoxic tissue injury from oxidative stress (Bergamaschi et al. 2001). Reactive oxygen species reactive oxygen species, n molecules and ions of oxygen that have an unpaired electron, thus rendering them extremely reactive. Many cellular structures are susceptible to attack by ROS contributing to cancer, heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease. found in or generated by diesel particles, fly-ash from oil furnaces, [O.sub.3], and other oxidant air pollutants can damage lipids, proteins, and DNA DNA: see nucleic acid. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid One of two types of nucleic acid (the other is RNA); a complex organic compound found in all living cells and many viruses. It is the chemical substance of genes. and initiate a chain of events started by macrophages Macrophages White blood cells whose job is to destroy invading microorganisms. Listeria monocytogenes avoids being killed and can multiply within the macrophage. and targeting pollutant capture and neutralization neutralization, chemical reaction, according to the Arrhenius theory of acids and bases, in which a water solution of acid is mixed with a water solution of base to form a salt and water; this reaction is complete only if the resulting solution has neither acidic nor (Arjomandi et al. 2005). Present knowledge indicates that a) pollutant-induced oxidative stress leads to proinflammatory gene expression through multiple pathways; b) oxidant pollutants can enhance responses to environmental allergens; and c) there are systemic effects of pollutant-induced oxidative stress in the lung that are important in cardiovascular toxicity. [O.sub.3] provides a good example of the consequences of inhaling a reactive pollutant. The pulmonary effects include airway hypersecretion, decreased lung function, epithelial cell damage, and inflammation. [O.sub.3] exposure activate macrophages, the second most potent secretory secretory /se·cre·to·ry/ (se-kre´tah-re) (se´kre-tor?e) pertaining to secretion or affecting the secretions. se·cre·to·ry adj. Relating to or performing secretion. cells in the body and critical mediators of inflammatory response. Macrophage macrophage /mac·ro·phage/ (mak´ro-faj) any of the large, mononuclear, highly phagocytic cells derived from monocytes that occur in the walls of blood vessels (adventitial cells) and in loose connective tissue (histiocytes, phagocytic overactivation, with excessive production of cytotoxic and proinflammatory mediators, can contribute to tissue injury. Mediators include cytokines Cytokines Chemicals made by the cells that act on other cells to stimulate or inhibit their function. Cytokines that stimulate growth are called "growth factors. , reactive oxygen intermediates such as superoxide superoxide /su·per·ox·ide/ (-ok´sid) any compound containing the highly reactive and extremely toxic oxygen radical O2-, a common intermediate in numerous biological oxidations. su·per·ox·ide n. , hydrogen peroxide, and OH radicals and reactive nitrogen intermediates (RNIs) such as NO and peroxynitrite (Fakhrzadeh et al. 2004; Laskin et al. 2004). Studies with [O.sub.3]-exposed rats have shown that macrophages release tumor necrosis factor-[alpha] and interleukin-18, leading, through a series of steps, to NO production and ultimately tissue injury. Blocking macrophage NO production by gadolinium gadolinium (gădəlĭn`ēəm), metallic chemical element; symbol Gd; at. no. 64; at. wt. 157.25; m.p. 1,312°C;; b.p. 3,233°C;; sp. gr. 7.898 at 25°C;; valence +3. chloride has been shown to prevent the observed [O.sub.3]-induced tissue injury (Pendino et al. 1995), providing evidence for RNI's role in tissue injury. The extent to which inhaling other reactive species (e.g., peroxy radicals or hydroperoxides) results in overactivation of macrophages is not known. Dermal dermal /der·mal/ (der´mal) pertaining to the dermis or to the skin. der·mal or der·mic adj. Of or relating to the skin or dermis. exposures are also of concern. Karlberg et al. (1994) has shown that air oxidation of limonene produces contact allergens. These include limonene oxide, carvone, and a series of hydroperoxide isomers isomers (ī´sōmurz), n.pl 1. organic compounds having the same empirical formula–i.e. . Similarly, the oxidation of linalool linalool a natural insecticidal compound found in oil extracted from citrus peel. Similar in activity to d-limonene. yields allergenic hydroperoxide isomers (Skold et al. 2002). Special methods are required to isolate and identify hydroperoxides, which are unstable and readily form the corresponding aldehyde. When glycol ethers (ethoxylated surfactants) are exposed to air, allergenic oxidation products are also formed, although not as quickly as with terpenoids (Karlberg et al. 2003). These air-oxidation reactions are normally slow. However, some allergenic oxidation products can be formed at much faster rates through [O.sub.3]-initiated oxidation processes. Although the workshop focused on potential acute effects that might result from exposure to the products of indoor chemistry, it was agreed that researchers should also be mindful of potential chronic effects, especially cancer. Techniques to study potential health effects include multiple methods to study the impact of pollutants on the respiratory tract, including acoustic thinometry, nasal peak inspiratory in·spi·ra·to·ry adj. Of, relating to, or used for the drawing in of air. inspiratory pertaining to or used in the inspiration of air into the lungs. flow, nasal scraping, nasal lavage lavage /la·vage/ (lah-vahzh´) 1. the irrigation or washing out of an organ, as of the stomach or bowel. 2. to wash out, or irrigate. lav·age n. , olfactory olfactory /ol·fac·to·ry/ (ol-fak´ter-e) pertaining to the sense of smell. ol·fac·to·ry adj. Of, relating to, or contributing to the sense of smell. testing, and trigeminal nerve sensory acuity. Physiologic changes such as watery eyes and nose or changes in the cells lining the contact surfaces can be indicators of irritation and may be quantifiable. Biomarkers for exposure to selected products of indoor chemistry would be of obvious utility. Changes in exhaled NO (eNO) concentrations have been used to track asthma and have been associated with exposure to outdoor air pollution (Koenig et al. 2003). NO is ubiquitous in the body and is elevated in exhaled breath of asthmatics or persons having an asthma attack. Increases in fine particles and in light-absorbing carbon particles have been associated with airway inflammation, measured as increases in eNO in older subjects with asthma (although a similar increase was not observed in older subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease n. Abbr. COPD A chronic lung disease, such as asthma or emphysema, in which breathing becomes slowed or forced. ). Given that eNO is a marker of oxidative stress, exposures to certain products of indoor chemistry (e.g., OH radicals, N[O.sub.3] radicals, ozonides, and hydroperoxides) may also lead to increases in eNO. However, the rapid oxidation of NO by certain oxidants may complicate its utility as a biomarker. Chemesthesis--the "feel" of a chemical, usually in the eyes, mouth, or throat--describes chemically provoked irritation. Only three receptors are involved in chemesthesis versus > 300 for olfaction. Odor perception tends to increase gradually with increasing chemical concentration, whereas chemesthesis requires a threshold concentration to elicit response and then increases fairly rapidly (Cometto-Muniz et al. 2005). Chemicals tend to stimulate at equal fractions of their saturation vapor pressure The saturation vapor pressure is the static pressure of a vapor when the vapor phase of some material is in equilibrium with the liquid phase of that same material. The saturation vapor pressure of any material is solely dependent on the temperature of that material. . Subjects are not able to feel chemicals with molecules above a certain size; the reason for this is not well understood. For nonreactive molecules, the chemesthesis threshold for a brief exposure is typically > 1 ppm; for reactive molecules it may be lower. In the case of a limonene/[O.sub.3] mixture (at realistic concentrations), subjects' chemesthesis response increased over time. The duration of the exposure has an amplifying effect on both chemesthesis magnitude and sensitivity (Cometto-Muniz et al. 2004). A subset of building occupants is especially susceptible to pollutant exposures (Miller 1997). Such individuals can serve to alert health professionals to problematic indoor environments, including those with elevated species derived from indoor chemical reactions. There was a brief discussion at the workshop regarding methods to identify such individuals. Workshop participants agreed that it is crucially important to understand exposures and that insufficient time had been spent discussing exposures of different populations to the products of indoor chemistry. Knowledge regarding actual exposures and intakes is extremely important in making eventual connections with health outcomes. This is an area requiring much more attention. Recommendations A common theme running through workshop discussions was the need to better characterize and understand the "reacting" indoor environment, with an emphasis on the chemicals that most affect human health--the "biologically relevant" compounds. New methods need to be developed that can detect some of the elusive, short-lived, highly reactive products. At the conclusion of the presentations, the participants were split into seven groups, each charged with developing a list of at least three research priorities and one or more hypotheses, which were subsequently discussed and prioritized by the full set of participants. Priority research needs. The list of research needs generated at the workshop can be grouped into six categories (the first three were judged to be most important): Exposure. Conduct targeted exposure studies for specific compounds formed by reactions among indoor pollutants, as well as reaction product precursors. Focus on health-relevant (acute and chronic) compounds. Incorporate methods demonstrated to be useful in studies of outdoor pollutants. Take advantage of existing exposure biomarkers (or identify new biomarkors) for targeted products of indoor chemistry. Modeling/measurements/model evaluation. a) Evaluate indoor chemistry models by measuring the concentrations of key reaction byproducts (e.g., OH, N[O.sub.3], H[O.sub.2], and C[H.sub.3][O.sub.2] radicals) under a variety of indoor conditions. Employ existing techniques that have been successfully applied to outdoor air. Such measurements would be used to evaluate and improve the models. The improved models, in turn, would be used to focus additional measurements. Ultimately, targeted measurements of key reaction products should occur, b) Develop integrated pharmacokinetic models addressing potential irritation, inflammation, and allergic responses initiated by the reaction products judged to be the most biologically significant. Risk assessment. Evaluate the health risks posed by the known products of indoor chemistry. This could be done using disability-adjusted life years Disability-adjusted life years (DALY) is a measure for the overall "burden of disease." Originally developed by the World Health Organization, it is becoming increasingly common in the field of public health and health impact assessment (HIA). [the sum of years of premature mortality plus years of illness or injury modified by appropriate weighting factors because of a particular disease or risk factor (Anand and Hanson 1997)]. Further risk assessment of reaction products would be based on toxicology, structure activity relationships, and epidemiologic studies addressing both cancer and noncancer end points. Tissue irritation. Evaluate the contribution of the products of indoor chemistry to irritation, especially mucosal irritation, and the susceptibilities of various target organs. Evaluate the consequences of chemical reactions that might occur on biologic surfaces such as skin or human lung tissue. Screening test. Develop a rapid screening test (e.g., in vitro cell bioassays) that would permit initial health-effects evaluation of compounds generated by reactions among indoor pollutants. Integrated program addressing inflammation, allergies, and asthma. Screen products of indoor chemistry for their potential to exacerbate allergies or asthma and irritate mucous membranes. After screening, evaluate the public's exposures to the compounds of greatest concern coupled with detailed evaluations of these compounds' toxicology. Testable hypotheses. The participants agreed that the subject of the workshop itself could be stated as a testable hypothesis--that products of indoor chemistry adversely affect human health. More specifically, the testable hypotheses offered by the participants covered four areas: * Mucosal irritation: chemical transformations of indoor pollutants yield products that contribute to mucosal irritation and inflammation. * Allergies: selected products of indoor chemistry can promote allergies (type 1 hypersensitivity hypersensitivity, heightened response in a body tissue to an antigen or foreign substance. The body normally responds to an antigen by producing specific antibodies against it. The antibodies impart immunity for any later exposure to that antigen. ). * Intervention: removing [O.sub.3] or sources of chemically reactive pollutants will lead to health improvements in environments where the intervention occurs (by limiting the products of [O.sub.3]-initiated chemistry). * Ecologic labels: chemical transformations of constituents found in various indoor "green" or "ecologic" materials subsequently contribute to, rather than mitigate, health problems. The focused research needs identified at the Indoor Chemistry and Health workshop are consistent with the broader research needs identified in the 2002 NORA indoor environment team publication (Mendell et al. 2002). Conclusions In the developed world, human exposure to airborne chemicals is dominated by indoor exposures. Inhalation of airborne pollutants is known to adversely affect human health, producing both acute and chronic effects. These include mucous membrane irritation mucous membrane irritation, n 1. inflammation and pain of the mucous membranes. Often caused by ingestion or inhalation of mold, dust, or chemical vapors. 2. side effect of some essential oils that contain higher phenol or aldehyde levels. , allergies and asthma, cardiopulmonary effects, and cancer. Some of the species inhaled indoors come from outdoors; some come directly from materials and products used indoors, and some are a consequence of chemical reactions occurring in the indoor environment. Certain chemical processes are continually occurring indoors (e.g., hydrolysis of esters on indoor surfaces). Other chemical processes are occurring intermittently, varying with time of day, day of week, season, and location (e.g., [O.sub.3]-initiated oxidation of terpenoids). 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Wolkoff P, Nielsen GD. 2001. Organic compounds in indoor air--their relevance for perceived indoor air quality. Atmos Environ 35:4407-4417. Ziemann PJ. 2002. Evidence for low-volatility diacyl peroxides as a nucleating agent and major component of aerosol formed from reactions of 0-3 with cyclohexene and homologous compounds. J Phys Chem A 106:4390-4402. Ziemann PJ. 2003. Formation of alkoxyhydroperoxy aldehydes and cyclic peroxyhemiacetals from reactions of cyclic alkenes with [O.sub.3] in the presence of alcohols. J Phys Chem A 107:2048-2060. Charles J. Weschler, (1,2) J.R. Wells, (3) Dustin Poppendieck, (4) Heidi Hubbard, (5) and Terri A. Pearce (3) (1) International Center for Indoor Environment and Energy, Technical University of Denmark The Technical University of Denmark (Danish: Danmarks Tekniske Universitet, DTU) was founded in 1829 as the 'College of Advanced Technology' (Danish: Den Polytekniske Læreanstalt). , Lyngby, Denmark; (2) Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey is the state-run health sciences institution of New Jersey and comprises eight distinct academic units: the New Jersey Medical School, the New Jersey Dental School, the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, the School of and Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; (3) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA; (4) Environmental Resources Engineering, Humboldt State University Not to be confused with Humboldt University of Berlin. Humboldt State University (HSU) is the northernmost campus of the California State University system, located in Arcata, California. , Arcata, California, USA; (5) Department of Civil Engineering, University of Texas-Austin, Austin, Texas, USA Address correspondence to C.J. Weschler, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, (170) Frelinghuysen Rd., Piscataway, NJ 08854 USA. Telephone: (732) 235-4114. Fax: (732) 530-1453. E-mail: weschlch@umdnj.edu We gratefully acknowledge die workshop participants who made presentations: J. Balmes (University of California--San Francisco and University of California-Berkeley), W. Cain (University of California-San Diego), R. Corsi (University of Texas-Austin), B. Finlayson-Pitts (University of California-Irvine), A.-T. Karlberg (University of Gothenburg), H. Kipen (University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey), J. Koenig (University of Washington), D. Laskin (University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey), C. Miller (University of Houston), W. Nazaroff (University of California-Berkeley), J.N. Pitts Jr. (University of California-Irvine), T. Salthammer (Wilhelm-Klauditz Institute), D. Shusterman (University of Washington), J. Sundell (Technical University of Denmark), C.J. Weschler (University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and Technical University of Denmark), P. Wolkoff (National Institute of Occupational Health, Denmark), and P. Ziemann (University of California-Riverside). The workshop was funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). We thank the Harvard School of Public Health The Harvard School of Public Health is (colloquially, HSPH) is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University. Located in Longwood Area of the Boston, Massachusetts neighborhood of Mission Hill, next to Harvard Medical School and Cambridge, Massachusetts, for supporting the breaks at the workshop. The findings and conclusions in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the NIOSH. The authors declare they have no competing financial interests. |
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