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Individual factors in nasal chemesthesis
1Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of California-San Francisco, USA. dennis@itsa.ucsf.edu
Chemical Senses
|July 27, 2002
Summary
Individual differences in nasal irritant sensitivity are not well understood. This review explores variability in chemesthesic sensitivity, examining methods and evidence for differences in response to air pollution.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Sensory Science
Background:
- Population variability in nasal irritant sensitivity is recognized in air pollution studies.
- Experimental research has largely overlooked individual differences in this trait.
- Existing data on susceptibility markers like age, gender, and allergies are often conflicting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current evidence for interindividual variability in nasal irritant sensitivity.
- To differentiate between sensory acuity and physiological reactivity in nasal chemoreception.
- To catalog methods used to study nasal irritant sensitivity.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of psychophysical and physiological studies.
- Analysis of existing data on factors influencing nasal sensitivity.
- Distinction between sensory and reactive components of chemesthesic responses.
Main Results:
- Interindividual variability in nasal irritant sensitivity is an under-studied area.
- Conflicting data exist for many proposed susceptibility markers.
- Functional subcomponents of sensitivity (acuity vs. reactivity) require further distinction.
Conclusions:
- More research is needed to understand population variability in nasal irritant sensitivity.
- Standardized methods are required to accurately assess individual differences.
- Understanding variability is crucial for effective air pollution management and health risk assessment.