Perchloroethylene exposure can induce colour vision loss

We evaluated colour vision in 35 dry-cleaners exposed to perchloroethylene (PCE) and in a paired number of controls matched for sex, age, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking. A subclinical colour vision loss, mainly in the blue-yellow range, was present in dry-cleaners. This effect was related to PCE exposure levels, and appeared at environmental concentrations of the solvent well below the current exposure limits for exposed workers. The results suggest that PCE exposure, even at low environmental levels, can induce a dose-related impairment of colour vision.