Authors: Kenneth W Altman Shaun C Desai Jacqueline Moline Rafael E de la Hoz Robin Herbert Patrick J Gannon Richard L Doty
Publish Date: 2010/06/30
Volume: 84, Issue: 2, Pages: 131-137
Abstract
Following the World Trade Center WTC collapse on September 11 2001 more than 40000 people were exposed to a complex mixture of inhalable nanoparticles and toxic chemicals While many developed chronic respiratory symptoms to what degree olfaction was compromised is unclear A previous WTC Medical Monitoring and Treatment Program study found that olfactory and nasal trigeminal thresholds were altered by the toxic exposure but not scores on a 20odor smell identification testTo employ a wellvalidated 40item smell identification test to definitively establish whether the ability to identify odors is compromised in a cohort of WTCexposed individuals and if so whether the degree of compromise is associated with selfreported severity of rhinitic symptomsThe University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test UPSIT was administered to 99 WTCexposed persons and 99 matched normal controls The SinoNasal Outcomes Test SNOT20 was administered to the 99 WTCexposed persons and compared to the UPSIT scoresThe mean SD UPSIT scores were lower in the WTCexposed group than in age sex and smoking historymatched controls respective scores 3005 508 vs 3594 376 p = 0003 an effect present in a subgroup of 19 subjects additionally matched on occupation p 0001 Fifteen percent of the exposed subjects had severe microsmia but only 3 anosmia SNOT20 scores were unrelated to UPSIT scores r = 020 p = 011Supported in part by the Alpha Omega Alpha Carolyn L Kuckein Student Research Fellowship the World Trade Center Monitoring and Treatment Program at Mount Sinai Hospital and grant NIEHS P30 ES013508 to the University of Pennsylvania We thank Dr Jay F Piccirillo for allowing us to use the SNOT20 in this study
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