Will the Mouse Bioassay for Estimating Sensory Irritancy of Airborne Chemicals (ASTM E 981-84) Be Useful for Evaluation of Indoor Air Contaminants

摘要

For many toxic inhalants, sensory irritation is the first detectable response. A standardization bioassay, ASTM E 981-84, that quantitates irritancy as a reduction in breathing rate of the mouse during inhalation exposure, has been developed. The validation of this screen for detecting irritation is based on the high rank-correlation between 0.03 x RD(50) and the TLVs-TWAs for numerous inhaled chemicals. The screen does not indicate the relative offensiveness of an odor, does not address all pulmonary hazards or non-irritating systemic hazards, and is not a replacement for chronic toxicity testing. Despite the limitations, prudent application of ASTM E 981-84 appears to provide a rapid, inexpensive means to identify indoor atmospheres of irritant potential.