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Acute effects of exposure to vapors of 3‐methyl‐1‐butanol in humans
Author(s) -
Ernstgård L.,
Norbäck D.,
Nordquist T.,
Wieslander G.,
Wålinder R.,
Johanson G.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
indoor air
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.387
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 1600-0668
pISSN - 0905-6947
DOI - 10.1111/ina.12002
Subject(s) - irritation , nose , eye irritation , damp , medicine , toxicology , surgery , immunology , biology , physics , meteorology
The secondary alcohol 3‐methyl‐1‐butanol (3 MB , isoamyl alcohol) is used, for example, as a solvent in a variety of applications and as a fragrance ingredient. It is also one of the microbial volatile organic compounds ( MVOC s) found in indoor air. There are little data on acute effects. The aim of the study was to assess the acute effects of 3 MB in humans. Thirty healthy volunteers (16 men and 14 women) were exposed in random order to 1 mg/m 3 3 MB or clean air for 2 h at controlled conditions. Ratings with visual analogue scales revealed slightly increased perceptions of eye irritation ( P = 0.048, Wilcoxon) and smell ( P < 0.0001) compared with control exposure. The other ratings were not significantly affected (irritation in nose and throat, dyspnea, headache, fatigue, dizziness, nausea, and intoxication). No significant exposure‐related effects were found in blinking frequency, tear film break‐up time, vital staining of the eye, nasal lavage biomarkers, lung function, and nasal swelling. In conclusion, this study suggests that 3 MB is not a causative factor for health effects in damp and moldy buildings.