![Sample our Geography journals, sign in here to start your FREE access for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5937/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Geography.jpg"})
Abstract
In evaluation of sites with human complaints of indoor air pollution, it would be useful to have an objective laboratory assay to confirm and quantitate the degree of air pollution resulting from airborne irritant chemicals. We report here a bioassay (using mice) which can objectively provide this information. ASTM‐E‐981 determines the overall toxic potency of airborne chemicals as indicated by irritation of the trigeminal nerve and the vagus nerve. These effects are known as sensory irritation and pulmonary irritation, respectively. When this bioassay was used to test air from thirteen sites associated with human complaints, measurable sensory and/or pulmonary irritation was observed for each site. Tests of air from fourteen sites not associated with human complaints yielded no sensory irritation, and one showed moderate pulmonary irritation. Duplicate samples from one site gave nearly identical sensory irritation results. Repeated sampling from one site on five different days over three weeks showed consistent levels of sensory irritants. ASTM‐E‐981 appears to be useful method for objectively estimating the toxic irritancy of some examples of polluted indoor air. These bioassay results objectively confirmed the human complaints at these sites.