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Visual dysfunction in workers exposed to a mixture of organic solvents
Yingyan Gong1, Reiko Kishi, Setsuko Kasai
1Department of Public Health, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, North 15, West 7, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan. gongyy@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Neurotoxicology
|August 6, 2003
Summary
Organic solvent exposure in furniture factory workers impairs color vision and contrast sensitivity. This study suggests potential retinal and optic nerve effects, warranting further investigation into brain impacts.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Workers in furniture factories are occupationally exposed to mixtures of organic solvents.
- Visual functions, including color vision (CV), contrast sensitivity (CS), and visual evoked potentials (VEP), are crucial for worker safety and performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between occupational exposure to mixed organic solvents and visual functions in furniture factory workers.
- To assess the impact of solvent exposure on color vision, contrast sensitivity, and visual evoked potentials.
Main Methods:
- 182 exposed workers from 53 Japanese furniture factories and 96 unexposed controls were tested.
- Exposure was assessed via environmental concentration and biological monitoring (urinary methylhippuric acid).
- Color vision (CV) and contrast sensitivity (CS) tests were performed on all subjects; VEP was measured in 21 exposed subjects with impaired CV/CS.
Main Results:
- Exposed workers showed significantly higher color confusion index (CCI) values (P<0.01) and lower contrast sensitivity (CS) at 6 and 12 cpd (P<0.01, P<0.05) compared to controls.
- A significant correlation was found between urinary methylhippuric acid concentration and contrast sensitivity (P<0.05).
- No abnormal VEP data were found in exposed subjects with impaired CV and CS, despite CCI showing a negative correlation with CS.
Conclusions:
- Low concentrations of mixed organic solvents may affect the retina and optic nerve in occupationally exposed workers.
- Further research is needed to determine if these effects impact the visual cortex in the brain.
- Occupational exposure to organic solvents poses a risk to visual functions, necessitating monitoring and preventative measures.