Sensory irritations and pulmonary effects in human volunteers following short-term exposure to pinewood emissions

Pinewood (Pinus ssp.) is widely used for furniture and building purposes. However, despite its widespread use, information on possible human sensory irritations and pulmonary effects caused by exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted from pinewood is sparse. For this purpose, (1) sensory irritation of eyes, nose and throat, (2) lung function parameters (FVC, FEV₁), (3) exhaled nitrogen oxide (NO) concentration, (4) eye blink frequency, and (5) sensory evaluation (using the SD method) were investigated before, after, and partly during exposure of human volunteers to emissions from pinewood panels. Fifteen healthy nonsmokers were exposed for 2 h under controlled conditions to VOCs emitted from pinewood panels in a 48 m³ test chamber. VOC concentrations were about 5 mg/ m³ (loading rate, 1 m²/m³), 8 mg/m³ (loading rate, 2 m²/m³), and 13 mg/m³ (loading rate, 3 m²/m³), respectively. Terpene and aldehyde exposure concentrations ranged from about 3.50 ± 0.51 mg/m³ and 0.07 ± 0.008 mg/m³, 5.00 ± 0.95 mg/ m³, and 0.20 ± 0.02 mg/m³ or 9.51 ± 1.10 mg/m³ and 0.21 ± 0.04 mg/m³ for loading rates of 1, 2, and 3 m²/m³, respectively. The emissions consisted predominantly of α-pinene and δ³-carene. No concentration-dependent effects before or after exposure to the emissions were measured with respect to sensory irritation, pulmonary function, exhaled NO, and eye blink frequency. Only the odor of the emissions was perceived by the study subjects, rated as being closer to “pleasant” than to “unpleasant.” In conclusion, the results of our study suggest that short-term exposure to high VOC concentrations, even up to 13 mg/m³, released from pinewood does not elicit sensory irritation or pulmonary effects in healthy humans under controlled conditions.