Abstract
Threshold responses of odor, nasal pungency (irritation), and eye irritation were measured for single chemicals (1-propanol, 1-hexanol, ethyl acetate, heptyl acetate, 2-pentanone, 2-heptanone, toluene, ethyl benzene, and propyl benzene) and mixtures of them (two three-component mixtures, two sixcomponent mixtures, and one nine-component mixture). Nasal pungency was measured in subjects lacking a functional sense of smell (i.e., anosmics) to avoid interference from olfaction. Various degrees of stimulus agonism (additive effects) were observed for each of the three sensory channels when testing mixtures. As the number of components and the lipophilicity of such components in the mixtures increased, so did the degree of agonism. Synergistic stimulus agonism characterized the eyeirritation response for the most complex (the nine-component) and the most lipophilic (one of the sixcomponent) mixtures. Physicochemical properties play a large role in the determination of sensitivity to airborne chemicals, particularly to their ability to evoke irritation. While this has revealed itself previously with respect to single chemicals, it seems to have relevance to mixtures as well.
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The research was supported by research Grants 5 RO1 DC 00284-12 and 1 R29 DC 02741-01 from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, and by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency through Cooperative Agreement CR-816362-02. It has been reviewed by the Agency and cleared for publication, but does not necessarily reflect the views of the Agency and no official endorsement should be inferred. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
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Cometto-Muñiz, J.E., Cain, W.S. & Hudnell, H.K. Agonistic sensory effects of airborne chemicals in mixtures: Odor, nasal pungency, and eye irritation. Perception & Psychophysics 59, 665–674 (1997). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03206014
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03206014