Effects on human eyes caused by experimental exposures to office dust with and without addition of aldehydes or glucan

Thirty-six volunteers (in three susceptibility groups: 11 subjects were non-allergic with nasal histamine hypersensitivity, 13 were non-allergic with normal sensitivity, and 12 were pollen allergic with or without nasal hypersensitivity) were exposed for three and a half hours in a climate chamber. Each subject was exposed to clean air (dust 45 ± 38 μg/m³ total suspended particle, TSP), house dust at 357 ± 180 μg/m ³ TSP, house dust 382 ± 175 μg/m³ TSP with added glucan (50 ng/m³) and house dust 394 ± 168 μg/m ³ TSP with added aldehydes corresponding to a gaseous phase of 300 μg/m³ in the air. The study was explorative by nature. No significant effects of exposures as such were seen on break-up time, conjunctival epithelial damage score and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) in tear film and subjective ratings. However, in TEAC a significant different time course was seen during exposures to aldehyde-containing dust indicating a subacute and late response to the exposures. Perceived eye irritation increased significantly during exposures to normal dust. The perception ratings were highly correlated, whereas no correlation was found between the subjective responses and the objective measurements.