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Amines as occupational hazards for visual disturbance
1Work Environment Research Department, Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Republic of Korea.
Industrial Health
|November 6, 2015
Summary
Exposure to industrial amines can cause temporary vision problems like blurred sight and halos, impacting worker safety and efficiency. Understanding amine volatility is key to preventing ocular risks in occupational settings.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health
- Toxicology
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Certain amines, including triethylamine and N,N-dimethylethylamine, are prevalent in industries like epoxy, foundry, and polyurethane foam production.
- Workers in these industries have reported glaucopsia, a visual disturbance linked to corneal edema and fluid accumulation in corneal subepithelial cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ocular effects of occupational amine vapor exposure.
- To establish concentration-effect relationships for visual disturbances caused by amines.
- To highlight the importance of volatility factors in preventing amine-induced ocular risks.
Main Methods:
- Review of reported cases of glaucopsia in industrial workers.
- Analysis of the relationship between amine vapor exposure duration and visual symptoms.
- Consideration of amine volatility factors like vapor pressure in industrial settings.
Main Results:
- Exposure to amine vapors can lead to reversible visual disturbances including blurred vision, a blue-grey appearance of objects, and halos around lights.
- Symptoms manifest after 30 minutes to several hours of exposure.
- Concentration-effect relationships for these visual disturbances have been established.
Conclusions:
- Amine-induced glaucopsia is a significant occupational nuisance, potentially causing accidents and reducing work efficiency.
- While occupational exposure limits exist for some amines, there's a need for more comprehensive criteria.
- Controlling amine volatility and atmospheric levels is crucial for preventing ocular risks in industrial environments.
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