Objective: To study the effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) inhalation on the inflammation biomarkers in nasal lavage fluid (NAL), and to assess the practicability of the nasal lavage methods.
Methods: 32 volunteers joined in this study, among whom 20 Painters were chosen as exposed group, and 12 plumbers and electricians were chosen as controls. Lung function was detected, and several inflammation biomarkers (IL-4, IL-5, ECP) in nasal lavage (NAL) were determined.
Results: The average FEV1 of exposed group was 3.08L, which was significantly lower than the control. And the concentration levels of inflammation biomarkers in NAL of painters were higher than that of the control. Among these detected biomarkers, the ECP level was significantly higher in exposed group than in control group(the mean was 3.57 microg/L in painter and 2.79 microg/L in the control, respectively). Moreover, there was statistically negative correlation between ECP level and FEV1 (a kind of lung function parameters), the correlated coefficient was -0.381.
Conclusion: Inhalation of VOCs could be responsible for the occurrence of respiratory inflammation and allergic illness such as rhinitis and asthma. Moreover, the method of nasal lavage is practicable for population study.