Gender differences in odor sensitivity

As a follow-up to the articles reviewed on odor sensitivity in the last two issues of this newsletter, we reviewed a recently published article entitled “Are women more sensitive than men to 2-propanol and m-xylene vapors?”  The investigators evaluated the sensory differences between men and women in acute health effects after controlled short-term chamber exposure to two common organic solvent vapors.  Fifty-six volunteers participated in the study and were exposed to 2-propanol (150 ppm), m-xylene (50 ppm) and clean air for 2 hours on three different occasions.  The volunteers rated the irritative symptoms on a visual analogue scale before, during and after exposure.  The authors also measured blinking frequency during exposure.  In addition, pulmonary function, nasal swelling inflammatory markers in nasal lavage, and color vision were also measured before, and at 0 and 3 hours post exposure.  The solvents were selected because: a) they differ in lipophilicity and hydrophilcity, b) both are commonly used, and c) both are without serious health risks at relevant exposure levels.

The authors observed significantly increased ratings for nearly all symptoms following solvent exposure as compared to the control exposure (clean air exposure).  The authors also observed a small effect on the lung function in women exposed to m-xylene.

The authors concluded that women are slightly more sensitive than men to the acute irritative effects of 2-propanol and m-xylene vapors.  They reported no significant difference in response to solvent exposure with respect to blinking frequency, lung diffusing capacity, nasal area and volume, inflammatory markers in nasal lavage, nor color vision.  The authors also reported that the rating of discomfort in the throats or ‘airways’ increased more in women during exposure to either solvent.  The authors found that unexposed women tended to rate symptoms slightly higher than men and rated irritative symptoms higher than men, including dizziness, headache, general fatigue and nausea.  Ernstgard et al. suggested that lifestyle differences between men and women may account for these variations.

By: Arlene L. Weiss, MS DABT
Contributing Editor for Toxicology and Epidemiology

Source: Ernstgard, L., Gullstrand, E. Lof, A., and Johanson, G. 2002. Are women more senstive than men to 2-propanol and m-xylene vapours? Occup. Environ. Med. 59:759-67