Chemosensory Perception Laboratory
List of Publications
July 1994 - Present

2008
Cometto-Muñiz, J.E., Cain, W.S., Abraham, M.H., and Gil-Lostes, J. Concentration-detection functions for the odor of homologous n-acetate esters. Physiology and Behavior 95:658-667, 2008.

Cometto-Muñiz, J.E., & Abraham, M.H. Human olfactory detection of homologous n-alcohols measured via concentration-response functions. Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Behavior, 89: 279-91, 2008.

Abraham, M.H., Gil-Lostes, J., Acree, W.E. Jr., Cometto-Muñiz, J.E., & Cain, W.S. Solvation parameters for mercury and mercury(II) compounds: calculation of properties of environmental interest. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 10: 435-442, 2008

Cometto-Muñiz, J.E. and Abraham, M.H. A cut-off in ocular chemesthesis from vapors of homologous alkylbenzenes and 2-ketones as revealed by concentration-detection functions. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 230:298-303, 2008.

2007
Cain, W.S., Jalowayski, A.A., Schmidt, R., Kleinman, M., Magruder, K., Lee, K.C., & Culver, B. D. (2007). Chemesthetic responses to airborne mineral dusts: Boric acid compared to alkaline materials. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, in press.

Cometto-Muñiz, J.E., Cain, W.S., Abraham, M.H. & Sánchez-Moreno, R. Cut-off in detection of eye irritation from vapors of homologous carboxylic acids and aliphatic aldehydes. Neuroscience, 145:1130-1137, 2007

Cain, W.S., Schmidt, R., & Wolkoff, P. (2007). Olfactory detection of ozone and d-limonene: reactants in indoor spaces. Indoor Air, in press.

Cain, W.S., Schmidt, R., & Jalowayski, A.A. (2007). Odor and chemesthesis from exposures to glutaraldehyde vapor. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, doi:10.1007/s00420-007-0185-0

Cometto-Muñiz, J.E., Cain, W.S., Abraham, M.H. & Sánchez-Moreno, R. Concentration-detection functions for eye irritation evoked by homologous n-alcohols and acetates approaching a cut-off point. Experimental Brain Research, 182:71-79, 2007

Abraham, M.H., Sánchez-Moreno, R., Cometto-Muñiz, J.E. & Cain, W.S. A Quantitative Structure-Activity Analysis on the Relative Sensitivity of the Olfactory and the Nasal Trigeminal Chemosensory Systems. Chemical Senses, 32:711-719, 2007

2006
Cometto-Muñiz, J.E., Cain, W.S., Abraham, M.H., and Sánchez-Moreno, R. Chemical boundaries for detection of eye irritation in humans from homologous vapors. Toxicological Sciences, 91:600-609, 2006.

Cain, W.S., Lee, N.-S., Wise, P.M., Schmidt, R., Ahn, B.-H., Cometto-Muñiz, J.E. and Abraham, M.H. Chemesthesis from volatile organic compounds: Psychophysical and neural responses. Physiology and Behavior, 88:317-324, 2006.

2005
Cain, W.S., de Wijk, R.A., Jalowayski, A. A., Pilla Caminha, G., & Schmidt, R. (2005). Odor and chemesthesis from brief exposures to TXIB. Indoor Air, 15:445-457, 2005.

Cometto-Muñiz, J.E., Cain, W.S., and Abraham, M.H. Determinants for nasal trigeminal detection of volatile organic compounds. Chemical Senses, 30:627-642, 2005.

Cometto-Muñiz, J.E., Cain, W.S., and Abraham, M.H. Molecular restrictions for human eye irritation by chemical vapors. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 30:627-642, 2005.

Cometto-Muñiz, J.E., Cain, W.S., and Abraham, M.H. Odor detection of single chemicals and binary mixtures. Behavioural Brain Research, 156:115-123, 2005.

2004
Cometto-Muñiz, J.E., Cain, W.S., and Abraham, M.H. Detection of single and mixed VOCs by smell and by sensory irritation. Indoor Air, 14(Suppl. 8):108-117, 2004.

Witherspoon, J.R., Adams, G., Cain, W.S., Cometto-Muñiz, J.E., Forbes, B., Hentz, L., Novack, J.T., Higgins, M., Murthy, S., McEwen, D., Ong, H.T. and Daigger, G.T. Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) anaerobic digestion and related processes, odour and health effects study. Water Science and Technology, 50(4):9-16, 2004.

Cain, W.S., Cometto-Muñiz, J.E. Health Effects of Biosolids Odors. Alexandria, VA: Water Environment Research Foundation, 2004.

Cometto-Muñiz, J.E., Cain, W.S., and Abraham, M.H. Chemosensory additivity in trigeminal chemoreception as reflected by detecion of mixtures. Experimental Brain Research, 158:196-206, 2004

Doty, R.L., Cometto-Muñiz, J.E., Jalowayski, A.A., Dalton P., Kendal-Reed, M. and Hodgson, M. Assessment of upper respiratory tract and ocular irritative effects of volatile chemicals in humans. Critical Reviews in Toxicology, 34(1):1-58, 2004.

Cain, W.S., Jalowayski, A.A., Kleinman, M., Lee, N.-S., Lee, B.-R., Ahn, B.-H., Magruder, K., Schmidt, R., Hillen, B.K., Warren, C.B. & Culver, B.D. (2004). Sensory and associated reactions to mineral dusts: Sodium borate, calcium oxide, and calcium sulfate. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, 1, 222-236.

2003
Abraham, M. H., Hassaniasadi, M., Jalali-Heravi, M., Ghafourian, T., Can, W.S. and Cometto-Muñiz, J.E. Draize rabbit eye test compatibility with eye irritation thresholds in humans: A quantitative structure-activity relationship analysis. Toxicological Sciences, 76:384-391, 2003.

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., Cain, W. S. & Abraham, M. H. Quantification of chemical vapors in chemosensory research. Chemical Senses, 28(6):467-477, 2003.

Doty, R.L. & Cometto-Muñiz, J. E. Trigeminal chemosensation. In R.L. Doty (Ed.) Handbook of Olfaction and Gustation (2nd Edition), Marcel Dekker, New York, 2003, pp. 981-1000.

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., Cain, W. S. & Abraham, M. H. Dose-addition of individual odorants in the detection of odor mixtures. Behavioural Brain Research, 138:95-105, 2003.

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E. Chemical sensing in humans and machines. In T.C. Pearce, S.S. Schiffman, H.T. Nagle and J.W. Gardner (Eds.) Handbook of Machine Olfaction: Electronic Nose Technology, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2003, pp. 33-53.

Olsson, M & Cain, W. S. (2003). Implicit and explicit memory for odors: Hemispheric differences. Memory and Cognition, 31, 44-50.

2002
Cain, W. S., Schmidt, R., Leaderer, B. P., Gent, J. F., Bell, D., & Berglund, L. G. (2002). Emission of VOCs from materials used in buildings: Analytical and sensory aspects. ASHRAE Transactions, 180(2), 283-296.

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E. & Cain, W. S. (2002). Sensory detection of VOCs singly and in mixtures: Odor and sensory iritation. In H. Levin (Ed.) Indoor Air 2002: Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate, 2, 237-242.

Cain, W. S. (2002). The construct of comfort: A framework for research. In H. Levin (Ed.) Indoor Air 2002: Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate, 2, 12-20.

Mendell, M. J., Fisk, W. J., Kreiss, K., Levin, H., Alexander, D., Cain, W. S., Girman, J. R., Hines, C. J., Jensen, P. A., Milton, D. K., Rexroat, L. P., & Wallingford, K. M. (2002). Improving the health of workers in indoor environments: Priority research needs for a national occupational research agenda. American Journal of Public Health, 92, 1430-1440.

Cain, W. S., & Schmidt, R. (2002). Sensory detection of glutaraldehyde in drinking water: Emergence of sensitivity and specific ansomia. Chemical Senses, 27, 425-433. [Abstract]

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., Cain, W. S., Abraham, M. H., & Gola, J. M. R. (2002). Psychometric functions for the olfactory and trigeminal detectability of butyl acetate and toluene. Journal of Applied Toxicology, 22, 25-30. [Abstract]

Abraham, M. H., Gola, J. M. R., Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., & Cain, W. S. (2002). A model for odour thresholds. Chemical Senses, 27, 95-104. [Abstract]

2001
Abraham, M. H., Gola, J. M. R., Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., & Cain, W. S. (2001). The correlation and prediction of VOC thresholds for nasal pungency, eye irritation and odour in humans. Indoor-Built Environment, 10, 252-257.

Jalowayski, A. A., Johnson, B. N., Wise, P. M., Schmid-Schönbein, G., & Cain, W. S. (2001). Orbital response indicates nasal pungency: Analysis of biomechanical strain on the skin. Chemical Senses, 26, 1005-1013. [Abstract]

Walker, J. C., Kendal-Reed, M., Utell, M. J., & Cain, W. S. (2001). Human breathing and eye blink responses to airborne chemicals. Environmental Health Perspectives, 109 (suppl. 4), 507-5122.

Abraham, M. H., Gola, J. M. R., Cometto-Muñiz, J.E. & Cain, W. S. (2001). Solvation properties of refrigerants, and the estimation of their water-solvent and gas-solvent partitions. Fluid Phase Equilibria, 180 (1-2), 41-58. [Abstract]

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E. (2001). Physicochemical basis for odor and irritation potency of VOCs. In: J.D. Spengler, J. Samet, and J.F. McCarthy(Eds.) Indoor Air Quality Handbook. McGraw-Hill, New York, 20.1-20.21.

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., Cain, W. S., Abraham, M. H., & Gola, J. M. R. (2001). Ocular and nasal trigeminal dectection of butyl acetate and toluene presented singly and in mixtures. Toxicological Sciences, 63, 233-244. [Abstract]

2000
Abraham, M. H., Benjelloun-Dakhama, N., Gola, J. M. R., Acree, W. E. Jr., Cain, W. S. & Cometto-Muñiz, J. E. (2000). Solvation descriptors for ferroncene, and the estimation of some physicochemical and biochemical properties. New Journal of Chemistry, 24, 825-829. [Abstract]

Abraham, M. H., Gola, J. M. R., Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., & Cain, W. S. (2000). The solvation properties of nitric oxide. Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 2, 2067-2070. [Abstract]

Abraham, M. H., Gola, J. R. M., Kumarsingh, R., Cometto-Muñiz, J.E., & Cain, W. S. (2000). The connection between chromatographic data and biological data. Journal of Chromatography B, 745 (1), 103-115. [Abstract]

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., Cain, W. S., Hiraishi, T., Abraham, M. H., & Gola, J. M. R. (2000). Comparison of two stimulus-delivery systems for measurement of nasal pungency thresholds. Chemical Senses, 25, 285-291. [Abstract]

Wise, P., M. & Cain, W. S. (2000). Latency and accuracy of discriminations of odor quality between binary mixtures and their components. Chemical Senses, 25, 247-265. [Abstract]

Wise, P. M., Olsson, M., & Cain, W. S. (2000). Quantification of odor quality. Chemical Senses, 25, 429-443. [Abstract]

Olsson, M. & Cain, W. S. (2000). Psychometrics of odor quality discrimination: Method for threshold determination. Chemical Senses, 25, 493-499. [Abstract]

1999
Cometto-Muñiz, J.E., Cain, W. S. Abraham, M.H., & Gola, J. M. (1999). Chemosensory detectability of 1-butanol and 2-heptanone singly in binary mixtures. Physiology & Behavior, 67, 269-276. [Abstract]

Duffy, V. B., Cain, W. S., & Ferris, A. M. (1999). Measurement of sensitivity to olfactory flavor: Application in a study of aging and dentures. Chemical Senses, 24, 671-677. [Abstract]

Wise, P. M. & Cain, W. S. (1999). Latency and accuracy of same-different discriminations of odor quality. In P. R. Kileen and W. R. Uttal (Eds.), Fechner Day 99: The End-of-20th-Century Psychophysics (pp. 395-400). Tempe, Arizona: International Society for Psychophysics.

1998
Abraham, M. H., Kumarsingh, R., Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., & Cain, W. S. (1998). An algorithm for nasal pungency thresholds in man. Archives of Toxicology, 72, 227-232. [Abstract]

Abraham, M. H., Kumarsingh, R., Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., & Cain, W. S. (1998). Draize eye scores and eye irritation thresholds in man can be combined into one QSAR. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 855, 652-656. [Abstract]

Abraham, M. H., Kumarsingh, R., Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., & Cain, W. S. (1998). Draize eye scores and eye irritation thresholds in man can be combined into one quantitative structure-activity relationship. Toxicology in Vitro, 12, 403-408. [Abstract]

Abraham, M. H., Kumarsingh, R., Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., & Cain, W. S. (1998). A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) for a Draize eye irritation database. Toxicology in Vitro, 12, 201-207. [Abstract]

Abraham, M. H., Kumarsingh, R., Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., Cain, W. S., Rosés, M., Bosch, E., & Diaz, M. L. (1998). The determination of solvation descriptors for terpenes, and the prediction of nasal pungency thresholds. Journal of the Chemical Society Perkin Transactions 2, 2405-2412. [Abstract]

Cain, W. S., de Wijk, R. A., Lulejian, C., Schiet, F., & See, L.-C. (1998). Odor identification: Perceptual and semantic dimensions. Chemical Senses, 23, 309-326. [Abstract]

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., & Cain, W. S. (1998). Trigeminal and olfactory sensitivity: Comparison of modalities and methods of measurement. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 71, 105-110. [Abstract]

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., Cain, W. S., & Abraham, M. H. (1998). Nasal pungency and odor of homologous aldehydes and carboxylic acids. Experimental Brain Research, 118, 180-188. [Abstract]

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., Cain, W. S., Abraham, M. H., & Kumarsingh, R. (1998). Sensory properties of selected terpenes: Thresholds for odor, nasal pungency, and eye irritation. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 855, 648-651. [Abstract]

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., Cain, W. S., Abraham, M. H., & Kumarsingh, R. (1998). Trigeminal and olfactory chemosensory impact of selected terpenes. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 60, 765-770. [Abstract]

1997
Cain, W. S. (1997). Cognitive coding in olfaction. In M. Guirao (Ed.), Procesos Sensoriales y Cognitivos, (pp. 241-252). Buenos Aires: CONICET-Dunken.

Cain, W. S., & Algom, D. (1997). Perceptual and mental mixtures in odor and in taste: Similarities and differences between experiments or between modalities? Reply to Schifferstein (1997). Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 23, 1588-1593.

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E. (1997). Contaminación de ambientes interiores: Estimulación de los sentidos del olfato e irritación química. In M. Guirao (Ed.), Procesos Sensoriales y Cognitivos, (pp. 299-313). Buenos Aires: CONICET-Dunken.

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., Cain, W. S., & Hudnell, H. K. (1997). Agonistic sensory effects of airborne chemicals in mixtures: Odor, nasal pungency, and eye irritation. Perception and Psychophysics, 59, 665-674.

Mott, A. E., Cain, W. S., Lafreniere, D., Leonard, G., Gent, J. F., & Frank, M. E. (1997). Topical corticosteroid treatment of anosmia associated with nasal and sinus disease. Archives of Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery, 123, 367-372.

Walker, J. C., Nelson, P. R., Cain, W. S., Utell, M. J., Joyce, M. B., Morgan, W. T., Steichen, T. J., Pritchard, W. S., & Stancill, M. W. (1997). Perceptual and psychophysiological responses of non-smokers to a range of environmental tobacco smoke concentrations. Indoor Air, 7, 173-188.

1996
Abraham, M. H., Andonian-Haftvan, J., Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., & Cain, W. S. (1996). An analysis of nasal irritation thresholds using a new solvation equation. Fundamental and Applied Toxicology, 31, 71-76. [Abstract]

Cain, W. S. (1996). Overview: Odors and irritation in indoor pollution. In R. B. Gammage & B. A. Berven (Eds.), Indoor Air and Human Health, (second ed., pp. 23-30). Boca Raton: Lewis.

Cain, W. S., & Cometto-Muñiz, J. E. (1996). Sensory irritation potency of VOCs measured through nasal localization thresholds. In S. Yoshizawa, K. Kimura, K. Ikeda, S. Tanabe, & T. Iwata (Eds.), Indoor Air '96 (Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate), (Vol. 1, pp. 167-172). Nagoya, Japan: Indoor Air '96.

Cain, W. S., Leaderer, B. P., Ginsberg, G. L., Andrews, L. S., Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., Gent, J. F., Buck, M., Berglund, L. G., Mohsenin, V., Monahan, E., & Kjaergaard, S. (1996). Acute exposure to low-level methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE): Human reactions and pharmacokinetic response. Inhalation Toxicology, 8, 21-48.

Cain, W. S., & Potts, B. C. (1996). Switch and bait: Probing the discriminative basis of odor identification via recognition memory. Chemical Senses, 21, 35-44. [Abstract]

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., & Cain, W. S. (1996). Physicochemical determinants and functional properties of the senses of irritation and smell. In R. B. Gammage & B. A. Berven (Eds.), Indoor Air and Human Health, 2nd Edition, (pp. 53-65). Boca Raton: CRC Lewis Publishers.

Walker, J. C., Nelson, P. R., Cain, W. S., Utell, M. J., Joyce, M. B., Morgan, W. T., Steichen, T. J., Pritchard, W. S., & Stancill, M. W. (1996). Perceptual and psychophysiological responses of non-smokers to a range of environmental tobacco smoke concentrations. In S. Yoshizawa, K. Kimura, K. Ikeda, S. Tanabe, & T. Iwata (Eds.), Indoor Air '96, (Vol. 1, pp. 1001-1006). Tokyo: Organizing Committee of the 7th International Conference of Indoor Air Quality and Climate.

1995
Cain, W. S., & Cometto-Muñiz, J. E. (1995). Irritation and odor as indicators of indoor pollution. Occupational Medicine: State of the Art Reviews, 10, 133-145.

Cain, W. S., Leaderer, B. P., Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., Gent, J., Buck, M., Berglund, L. G., Mohsenin, V., Monahan, E., Ginsberg, G. L., Andrews, L. S., & Kjærgaard, S. (1995). Human reactions to one-hour exposures to methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE). Proceedings of the Conference on MTBE and Other Oxygenates, (pp. D-211 - D-239). Falls Church, VA: Environmental Protection Agency.

Cain, W. S., Leaderer, B. P., Ginsberg, G. L., Andrews, L. S., Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., Gent, J., Buck, M., Berglund, L. G., Mohsenin, V., Monahan, E., & Kjærgaard, S. (1995). Acute exposure to low-level methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE): Human reactions and pharmacokinetic response. Inhalation Toxicology, 8, 21-48.

Cain, W. S., Samet, J. M., & Hodgson, M. (1995). The quest for negligible health risk from indoor air. ASHRAE Journal, 38-44.

Cain, W. S., Schiet, F. T., Olsson, M. J., & de Wijk, R. A. (1995). Comparison of models of odor interaction. Chemical Senses, 20, 625-637. [Abstract]

Cain, W. S., Stevens, J. C., Nickou, C. M., Giles, A., Johnston, I., & Garcia-Medina, M. R. (1995). Life-span development of odor identification, learning, and olfactory sensitivity. Perception, 24, 1457-1472.

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E. Using human panels for subjective evaluation of emissions from indoor activities and materials: Principles and state of technology.Report to the U.S. E.P.A. under Contract (Order) N°D2405NATA, Requisition/Reference N°FN24240, 1995.

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., & Cain, W. S. (1995). Mixtures of volatile organic compounds: Detection of odor, nasal pungency, and eye irritation. In M. Maroni (Ed.), Proceedings of Healthy Buildings '95. An International Conference on Healthy Buildings in Mild Climate. Vol. 1, (pp. 171-182). Milan: Healthy Buildings '95.

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., & Cain, W. S. (1995). Olfactory adaptation. In R. L. Doty (Ed.), Handbook of Olfaction and Gustation, (pp. 257-281). New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc.

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., & Cain, W. S. (1995). Relative sensitivity of the ocular trigeminal, nasal trigeminal, and olfactory systems to airborne chemicals. Chemical Senses, 20, 191-198. [Abstract]

de Wijk, R. A., Schab, F. R., & Cain, W. S. (1995). Odor identification. In F. R. Schab & R. G. Crowder (Eds.), Odor Memory, (pp. 21-37). Hillsdale, New Jersey: Erlbaum.

1994
Cain, W. S., & Stevens, J. C. (1994). Rise and fall of olfactory competence through life. In K. Kurihara, N. Suzuki, & H. Ogawa (Eds.), Olfaction and Taste XI, (Vol. 11, pp. 593-596). Tokyo, Japan: Springer-Verlag.

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., & Cain, W. S. (1994). Perception of odor and nasal pungency from homologous series of volatile organic compounds. Indoor Air, 4, 140-145.

Cometto-Muñiz, J. E., & Cain, W. S. (1994). Sensory reactions of nasal pungency and odor to volatile organic compounds: The alkylbenzenes. American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal, 55, 811-817. [Abstract]

de Wijk, R. A., & Cain, W. S. (1994). Odor identification by name and by edibility: Life-span development and safety. Human Factors, 36, 182-187.

de Wijk, R. A., & Cain, W. S. (1994). Odor quality: discrimination vs. free and cued identification. Perception & Psychophysics, 56, 12-18.

Murphy, C., Nordin, S., de Wijk, R. A., Cain, W. S., & Polich, J. (1994). Olfactory evoked potentials: assessment of young and elderly, and comparison to psychophsical threshold. Chemical Senses, 19, 47-56. [Abstract]