Sensory irritation tests

Bos, P.M.J., M. Busschers, and J.H.E. Arts. 2002. Evaluation of the sensory irritation test (Alarie Test) for the assessment of respiratory tract irritation. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 44 968-976. 

After 3 days a preliminary chemical (TVOC) test and sensory irritation test with a panel of persons. If the TVOC concentration is higher than 5 mg/m and/or more than 10% of a panel of persons perceive sensory irritation, no label is given. 

After 28 days a final test comprising a toxicological test (LUR for all detected VOCs less than 10 and relevant compounds with concentrations more than 5 pg/m should be evaluated toxicologicaUy), TVOC test (less that 200 pg/m ) and a sensory irritation test (odour/perceived air quality evaluation should have been performed). A label is given if all tests are passed. 

The AEGL-1 value was based on the observation that exercising healthy human subjects could tolerate exposure to concentrations of 500 or 1,000 ppm for 4 h with no adverse effects on lung function, respiratory symptoms, sensory irritation, or cardiac symptoms (Utell et al. 1997). The exercise, which tripled the subjects minute ventilation, simulates an emergency situation and accelerates pulmonary uptake. Results of the exposure of two subjects for an additional 2 h to the 500-ppm concentration and the exposure of one subject to the 1,000-ppm concentration for an additional 2 h failed to elicit any clear alterations in neurobehavioral parameters. The 4- or 6-h 1,000-ppm concentration is a NOAEL in exercising individuals, there were no indications of response differences among tested subjects, and animal studies indicate that adverse effects occur only at considerably higher concentrations, so the 1,000-ppm value was adjusted by an uncertainty factor (UF) of 1. The intraspecies UF of 1 is supported by the lack of adverse effects in patients with severe... 

Kane, L.E., Barrow, C.S., andAlarie, Y. (1979). A short-term test to predict acceptable levels of exposure to airborne sensory irritants. Am. Ind. Hyg. J. 40 207-229. 

As mentioned previously, there are no test guideline methods for respiratory irritation. Good data, often clearly related to exposure levels, can be obtained on respiratory and mucous membrane irritation, from well-designed and well-reported inhalation studies in animals. Also the Alarie test (Alarie 1973, 1981), an experimental animal test assessing the concentration that results in a 50% reduction of the breathing frequency, may provide useful information on sensory irritation of the upper respiratory tract and the results may be used for hazard identification. 

The mouse sensory irritation potentials of HDI, toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI), isocyanatoethyl methacrylate (lEM), and isocyanatoethyl propionate (lEP) were determined in another study. Male Swiss albino CD-I mice were exposed for a 2-minute control period with room air, 3 minutes of exposure to one of 4 isocyanate vapors, then 2 minutes of recovery with room air. The range of concentrations tested were 0-0.82 ppm for HDI, 0-3.44 ppm for TDI, 0-2.51 ppm for lEM, and 0-1.95 ppm for lEP. The concentration that produced RDjo was determined. HDI was determined to be approximately 3 times... 

Before confirming a diagnosis of subjective irritation, patients must be patch tested and open tested to exclude allergic contact dermatitis and contact urticaria, respectively. Subclinical contact urticaria, in particular, mimics sensory irritation. 

ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) (1991). Standard test method for estimating sensory irritancy of airborne chemicals. In Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol. 11.04. ASTM, Philadelphia, PA. 

Ocular Toxicology See Eye Irritancy Testing Sensory Organs. 

The sensory-irritation potential ofJP-4, JP-8, and JP-8+100 were evaluated in groups of four male Swiss-Webster mice exposed, head-only, for 30 min to atmospheres of each material containing both vapor and aerosol phases (U.S. Department of the Air Force 2001). The three test materials evoked breathing patterns characteristic of upper airway sensory irritation at all exposure concentrations. Examination of the breathing patterns revealed no apparent pulmonary (deep lung) irritation at any concentration. The calculated values for concentrations of JP-4, JP-8, and JP-8+100 that caused a 50% decrease in respiratory rate (RD50) were 4,842,2,876, and 1,629 mg/m3 (total aerosol + vapor concentration), respectively. The relative irritancy ranking of the three fuels was JP-8+100 > JP-8 > JP-4. In contrast, respiratory rates of mice exposed to deodorized kerosene vapor by inhalation at 6,900 mg/m3 were not decreased by 50% or more from control values (Carpenter et al. 1976). 

U.S. Department of the Air Force. 2001. Sensory Irritation Study in Mice. Final Report. Project Number 162951. Test Substance JP-4( MRD-00-629), JP-8(MRD-00-630),JP-8 + 100 (MRD-00-631). Prepared by ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Annandale, NJ, for the U.S. Department of the Air Force,Brooks Air Force Base, TX. 

The actions of an irritant substance on sensory nerve endings can be conveniently studied in humans by applying the test substances to an artiflcially produced (cantharidin) blister-base an area where the epidermis has been removed to expose nerve endings in the dermis, usually on the forearm. In these valuable and unambiguous tests, it transpires that at the higher end of the concentration range capsaicin produces extreme pain. In comparison. 

Another labelling scheme is the indoor climate labelling scheme, in which building products are tested for their emission of VOCs and by a sensory evaluation of the emissions as a safety measure [62]. The parameter used for evaluation and as a criterion is the time required for the emission of VOCs of concern to decay to the point where their (modelled) room concentrations are below their indoor relevant values. These are based on 50% of either odour-threshold values or airway-irritation estimates. 

Mildness has become an important attribute of LDLDs. Assessments typically involve clinical and sensory evaluations of skin irritation. Mildness evaluations are usually conducted in both in vivo and in vitro testing. 

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