Asthma chemical mixtures

What do Gulf War Syndrome, Katrina Cough, Aerospace Syndrome, and epidemic increases in the incidence of autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), birth defects, asthma, mailroom illness, spontaneous abortion, and many cancers have in common Each of these can be associated with a single causative agent, but each can also be associated with environmental exposure to chemical mixtures that do not contain any of the known causative agents. 

Our inability to defend ourselves against new chemicals and mixtures often results in epidemics of disease. For example, asthma, autism, infertility, and many cancers affect different parts of the body and seemingly have different etiologies. All, however, can be related to a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental exposure to chemicals. All are less prevalent where chemical exposures are lower, for example, in rural areas. All have known single chemical exposure causes and they can all be related to low level exposure to chemical mixtures. The toxic effects of chemical mixtures are explored in the chapters that follow. 

Table 17.6 Chemical Mixtures that Induce Occupational Asthma...

Many chemical mixtures are known to induce asthma. Illustrative examples of some of these follow. 

Cleaning products rank at or near the top of chemical mixtures that induce asthma. I5>3>1 These products are almost always mixtures of lipophiles and hydrophiles and are formulated that way to ensure maximum cleaning power. Chemicals contained in cleaning products include chlorine, acids, alkalis, glycol ethers, ammonia, ethanol, isopropanol, d-limonene, ionic and nonionic surfactants, ethanolamines, phenols, and others. 

RADS is a type of asthma that develops after exposure to a single environmental or occupational exposure to a high concentration of a single chemical or chemical mixture. Though RADS clinically simulates bronchial asthma and is associated with airways hyperactivity, it is different from OA because of its rapid onset following a single exposure, its lack of a sensitization period requirement, and its occurrence without an allergic... 

The continuing worldwide increase in respiratory disease corresponds to increases in the release of chemicals into the atmosphere. Respiratory irritation, sensitization, asthma, RADS, and lung cancer can be attributed to numerous single chemicals whose toxicological properties are, for the most part, well known. Many unexplained incidences of respiratory disease cannot be attributed to single chemical exposures, but have been shown to occur when exposures are to chemical mixtures that are composed of at least one lipophile and one hydrophile. The sources of such mixtures include diesel exhausts, tobacco smoke, carpet emissions, paint fumes, and cleaning products. Prevention of chemically induced respiratory diseases should include limiting exposures to these chemical mixtures. 

Asthma can be induced by chemicals that are ingested or dermally applied as well as inhaled chemicals. Sulfites in wine, salads, other foods, and some medications are known to induce asthma when ingested [7, 45 7] and many chemicals, including isocyanates and anhydrides, have been shown to induce asthma following dermal exposure [48, 49]. The discussion in this section, however, will be limited to inhaled chemical mixtures as causative agents for asthma. 

Mattress covers emit mixtures of aromatic hydrocarbons, TCE, and phenol, the mixture of which induces acute respiratory effects including asthma-like reactionsJ49l Similar effects are observed with emissions from disposable diapers. I50 though such responses are not predicted from the measured concentrations of the chemicals. 

Exposures to sick buildings may stimulate respiratory responses in healthy individuals with no previous history of asthma, allergic rhinitis, chronic respiratory disease, recent acute respiratory illness, or extensive exposure to pollutants. Chemicals typically found in sick buildings arise from carpeting, paint, wood products, cleaners, and other sources. These chemicals are mixtures of lipophilic and hydrophilic chemicals and, with the exception of isocyanates from polyurethane wood finishes, are usually... 

Though asthma is known to be induced by sensitizing chemicals, it is also triggered by irritant chemicals. Significantly, when asthma is induced by sensitizers, it is almost always done so by exposure to a single chemical, but when triggered by irritants, it is almost always following exposures to mixtures of lipophiles and hydrophiles. This connection also holds for the onset of RADS, which is discussed next. 

Perfumed products Fragrances Parfum Parfum is a mixture of dozens of synthetic chemicals that are linked to asthma, skin irritation, nausea, mood changes, depression, lethargy, irritability, and memory lapses. 

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