Indhushree R, Monica R, Coral K, Angayarkanni Narayanasamy, Punitham R, Subburathinam B M, Krishnakumar R, Santanam P P
Elite School of Optometry, Unit of Medical Research Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Occupational Optometry Service, Sankara Nethralaya, Unit of Medical Research Foundation, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Indian J Occup Environ Med. 2016 Sep-Dec;20(3):133-137. doi: 10.4103/0019-5278.203138.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the visual functions of workers exposed to organic solvents in petrochemical industries.
Thirty workers from the petroleum refinery and 30 age-matched controls (mean age) were recruited. Visual functions and occupational exposure levels were assessed among both the groups. Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, color vision, and visual fields were evaluated at the workplace. The biological samples, namely blood and urine, were collected at the workplace and transported to the laboratory for analysis. The urinary excretion of hippuric and methylhippuric acid as well as creatinine was measured by high performance liquid chromatography.
The mean age of the workers and controls were 39.7 ± 7.6 years and 38.6 ± 8.1, years respectively. The mean years of experience of the workers were 15.6 ± 6.8 years. Visual acuity was >0.01 LogMAR among both the control and case groups. The contrast sensitivity was reduced at 12cpd among workers. Comparison between groups was done using independent sample -test. The mean difference in color confusion index was 0.11 ± 0.05 ( = 0.037*). The mean difference in visual fields was -0.31 ± 0.36 dB ( = 0.933). The mean difference in urinary hippuric acid level (urinary metabolite of toluene) between the groups was 0.19 ± 0.96 g/g creatinine ( = 0.049FNx01). The mean difference in the excretion of methylhippuric acid (urinary metabolite of xylene) was 0.06 ± 0.04g/g creatinine ( = 0.154). We also found that exposure was a significant risk factor for color vision defect with an odds ratio of 4.43 (95% CI: 1.36-14.4); = 0.013.
The study results showed that contrast sensitivity and color vision were affected among workers in petrochemical industry.
本研究旨在评估石化行业接触有机溶剂工人的视觉功能。
招募了30名炼油厂工人和30名年龄匹配的对照者（平均年龄）。对两组人员的视觉功能和职业暴露水平进行了评估。在工作场所评估视力、对比敏感度、色觉和视野。在工作场所采集血液和尿液等生物样本，并运至实验室进行分析。采用高效液相色谱法测定尿中马尿酸、甲基马尿酸以及肌酐的排泄量。
工人组和对照组的平均年龄分别为39.7±7.6岁和38.6±8.1岁。工人的平均工作年限为15.6±6.8年。对照组和病例组的视力均>0.01 LogMAR。工人中12周/度时的对比敏感度降低。采用独立样本t检验进行组间比较。色觉混淆指数的平均差异为0.11±0.05（P=0.037*）。视野的平均差异为-0.31±0.36 dB（P=0.933）。两组间尿中马尿酸水平（甲苯的尿代谢产物）的平均差异为0.19±0.96μg/g肌酐（P=0.049）。甲基马尿酸（二甲苯的尿代谢产物）排泄量的平均差异为0.06±0.04μg/g肌酐（P=0.154）。我们还发现，暴露是色觉缺陷的一个显著危险因素，优势比为4.43（95%可信区间：1.36-14.4）；P=0.013。
研究结果表明，石化行业工人的对比敏感度和色觉受到了影响。
