ABSTRACT

Background: Butane is present as propellant gas in deodorants, shaving foam tubes and air fresheners. In our study, potential allergic effects of chronic inhalation of butane on nasal mucosa of rats were evaluated.

Objective: To discover the effects of butane gas on nasal mucosa in rats and determine its potential allergic effects.

Methods: An experimental study was conducted on Wistar Albino rats. Animals were divided into two groups as experimental and control. The experimental group was exposed to butane for 100 days. Coronal slices of 5 μm thickness were taken from the nasal cavities of the animals. Eosinophils, goblet cells, lymphocytes and eosinophil exocytosis were evaluated in slices.

Results: An increase was found in eosinophil counts in the experimental group (p < 0.001); between the groups, lymphocyte infiltration, amount of goblet cells and eosinophil exocytosis were similar (p > 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between lymphocyte infiltration and eosinophil exocytosis in the experimental group (p = 0.0001).

Conclusion: According to our study, butane may create inflammation in nasal mucosa.