Metachromatic cells and eosinophils in the nasal mucosa and N,N-dimethylbenzylamine exposure.

Six healthy non-atopic male volunteers participated in a dose-response study of N,N-dimethylbenzylamine (DMBA), which is a reactive chemical used in epoxy systems. The effects on the nasal mucosa after inhalation of 0, 20, 45, 80 and 120 microg/m3 were studied by means of symptom recordings, acoustic rhinometry, nasal lavages and nasal cytology processed for light microscopy of metachromatic cells (MC) and eosinophils (EOS). Although only minor symptoms were provoked, the numbers of MC and Eos tended to increase in a dose-response fashion after inhalation of the chemical. No signs of degranulation of the cells were found, as the levels of tryptase and eosinophil cationic protein in the nasal lavages remained low at all DMBA exposure levels. We therefore conclude that a reactive chemical such as DMBA can influence MC and Eos in the nasal mucosa even at low dose levels without causing significant clinical symptoms.