Exposure to volatile organic compounds and airway inflammation

Abstract

[...]several studies have linked VOC exposure to asthma and other respiratory symptoms, although there is no consistent association between the total concentration of VOCs and SBS [1]. [...]a high ratio of uLTE4 to FeNO (uLTE4/FeNO) seems to indicate predominantly non-Th2 airway inflammation [10]. [...]increases in uLTE4 and uLTE4/FeNO in the current study suggest an increase in non-Th2 inflammation in the airway of the study population after moving into the new building. [...]there could be many other variables that changed during the move into a new building, and the ambient levels of indoor VOCs constitute one of them. [...]personal factors, including age, smoking, medication, and weekly lifestyle, might be adjusted, as the same person was evaluated before and after the move at a similar time of day with a 14-day gap. [...]changes before and after the move were suspected to be relatively limited to changes in the indoor environment, and exposure to higher levels of indoor VOCs were one of the main changes.