Stokholm J, Norn M, Schneider T
Scand J Work Environ Health. 1982 Sep;8(3):185-90. doi: 10.5271/sjweh.2481.
The effect of man-made mineral fibers on the human eye was investigated in a cross-sectional study of 15 workers exposed to Rockwool and a matched reference group of 15 people. Eye symptoms, changes in the cellular and mucous content of the conjunctival fluid, break-up time of the precorneal film, the number of microepithelial defects, and the number of dead and degenerated cells on the cornea and bulbar conjunctiva were used as measures of effect. The number of fibers accumulated in the eye and conventional dust sampling methods were used as measures of dose. A significantly higher frequency of eye symptoms related to work conditions (p less than 0.001) was found among exposed workers. Similarly, the number of microepithelial defects on the medial bulbar conjunctiva increased significantly (p = 0.009) after 4 d of exposure. Six exposed workers had a pathological increase in the neutrophil count of the conjunctival fluid after 4 d of exposure, and an increase was seen in only one worker after a weekend free from exposure. Significant correlation was found between microepithelial defects on the medial bulbar conjunctiva and measures of dose (p less than 0.01). The symptoms and cellular changes can be explained by the assumption that man-made mineral fibers have the same mechanical and reversible effect on the eye as on the skin. The described dose-effect relationship suggests that a much lower hygienic standard is needed for man-made mineral fibers than what has been recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists.
在一项横断面研究中，对15名接触岩棉的工人和15名相匹配的对照人员组成的参照组进行了调查，以研究人造矿物纤维对人眼的影响。眼部症状、结膜液中细胞和黏液含量的变化、角膜前膜破裂时间、微上皮细胞缺损数量以及角膜和球结膜上死亡和变性细胞的数量用作效应指标。眼睛中累积的纤维数量和传统的粉尘采样方法用作剂量指标。在接触的工人中发现与工作条件相关的眼部症状出现频率显著更高（p<0.001）。同样，暴露4天后，球结膜内侧的微上皮细胞缺损数量显著增加（p=0.009）。6名接触的工人在暴露4天后结膜液中的中性粒细胞计数出现病理性增加，而在脱离暴露的一个周末后，只有一名工人出现增加。球结膜内侧的微上皮细胞缺损与剂量指标之间存在显著相关性（p<0.01）。症状和细胞变化可以通过以下假设来解释：人造矿物纤维对眼睛的机械和可逆作用与对皮肤的作用相同。所描述的剂量-效应关系表明，人造矿物纤维所需的卫生标准比美国政府工业卫生学家会议所建议的标准要低得多。
