A Strategy for the Evaluation of Sensory and Pulmonary Irritation Due to Chemical Emissions from Indoor Sources

Abstract

Sensory and pulmonary irritation are physiological responses to chemical exposure which result in characteristic, measurable changes in respiratory activity in mice. A standard method has been applied to the estimation of sensory irritation associated with a specific chemical exposure. This method has been correlated with human responses to these chemicals. Symptoms associated with chemical irritants are consistent with complaints due to problems with indoor air quality, which may include eye and upper respiratory tract irritation, headaches, and nausea. A stepwise strategy for assessing the contribution of indoor products to sensory and pulmonary irritation is discussed in the current paper. The strategy includes product emissions testing using dynamic environmental chambers, the selection of suspected irritants for respiratory irritation testing, respiratory irritation testing of individual compounds and representative mixtures using synthesized atmospheres, and the evaluation of test data to determine those compounds which may contribute to sensory and pulmonary irritation in humans. The current strategy is being applied to evaluate carpet system materials and their constituent chemicals.     

Activity concentrations and dose rates from decorative granite countertops

The gamma radiation emitted from a variety of commercial decorative granites available for use in U.S. homes has been measured with portable survey meters as well as an NaI(Th) gamma spectrometer. The ⁴⁰K, U-nat, and ²³²Th activity concentrations were determined using a full-spectrum analysis. The dose rates that would result from two different arrangements of decorative granite slabs as countertops were explored in simulations involving an adult anthropomorphic phantom.