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Nasal Mucosal Swelling in Relation to Low Air Exchange Rate in Schools
Author(s) -
Wålinder Robert,
Norbäck Dan,
Wieslander Gunilla,
Smedje Greta,
Erwall Claes
Publication year - 1997
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/j.1600-0668.1997.t01-1-00005.x
Subject(s) - acoustic rhinometry , nasal cavity , ventilation (architecture) , air pollutants , pollutant , environmental engineering , air change , indoor air , medicine , environmental science , toxicology , chemistry , environmental chemistry , air pollution , surgery , meteorology , biology , physics , organic chemistry
Acoustic rhinometry and hygienic measurements of indoor air pollutants were applied in a field study on nasal congestion among 27 subjects working in two primary schools. One school had natural ventilation only and a low air exchange rate (0.6 ac/h); the other had balanced mechanical ventilation and a high air exchange rate (5.2 ac/h). The minimal cross‐sectional area and volume of the nasal cavity were estimated with acoustic rhinometry. The degree of swelling of the nasal mucosa was measured as the increase of the cross‐sectional area after standardized application of nasal spray containing a decongestive adrenergic substance. Reports on weekly symptoms of nasal congestion were similar (33%) in both schools. A significantly increased decongestive effect was noticed for the minimal cross‐sectional area (MCA2) among personnel in the school with a low air exchange rate. The difference between the schools in decongestive effect on MCA2 was 23%, corresponding to a 3% increase of MCA2 for a difference in personal outdoor airflow of one litre. Indoor concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOC), respirable dust, bacteria, moulds and VOCs of possible microbial origin (MVOC) were 2–8 times higher in the naturally ventilated school. In conclusion, inadequate outdoor air supply in schools may lead to raised levels of indoor air pollutants, causing a sub‐clinical swelling of the nasal mucosa. Our results indicate that acoustic rhinometry could be applied in field studies, and that objective measurement of nasal decongestion might be a more sensitive measure of biological effects of indoor air pollution than symptom reporting.