[Study on FM100-HUE color vision in male workers exposed to lower concentration of carbon disulfide]

The effect of CS2 on color vision in workers exposed to CS2 was explored. The color discrimination in 191 exposed and 93 non-exposed male workers was studied by a Farnsworth Munsell 100-HUE (FM100-HUE) test. The results showed that the time weighted average (TWA) concentration of CS2, determined by Japan GC-17A gas chromatography, was (14.75 +/- 6.89) mg/m3 in a long rayon workshop and (16.30 +/- 5.42) mg/m3 in a short rayon workshop. Higher FM100-HUE color vision score was often in the exposed group (106.9) than in the controls (78.3). The discrimination to green and blue zone was also significantly impaired (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the color vision was disturbed in workers exposed to CS2. The workers should be followed by health surveillance.