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Quantitative assessment of color vision impairment in workers exposed to toluene
Author(s) -
Zavalić M.,
Mandić Z.,
Turk R.,
BogadiŠare A.,
Plavec D.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0274(199803)33:3<297::aid-ajim12>3.0.co;2-v
Subject(s) - hippuric acid , medicine , alcohol , toluene , urine , biochemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry
Color vision was examined by the Lanthony‐D‐15 desaturated test in two groups of workers occupationally exposed to toluene and in a control group. Biological parameters of toluene exposure were analyzed: toluene in air and in venous blood, orthocresol, and hippuric acid in urine after workshift. The first exposed group, Group E 1 , comprised 41 workers (toluene exposure ranged from 11.30 to 49.30 ppm), and the second exposed group, Group E 2 , comprised 32 workers (toluene exposure ranged from 66.00 to 250.00 ppm). The nonexposed group, Group NE, comprised 83 subjects. Each group was divided into two subgroups; alcohol consumers and nonconsumers. Color vision loss was expressed as a color confusion index (CCI) and as age and alcohol intake‐adjusted color confusion index (AACCI). Significantly higher values of CCI and AACCI (both P < 0.0001) in Group E 2 in comparison to Group NE, and significantly higher CCI ( P < 0.0001) and AACCI ( P < 0.05) values in Group E 2 in comparison to Group E 1 were established. The significant difference in CCI value between alcohol consumers and nonconsumers was established only in Group NE ( P < 0.05). In Group NE significant correlation was found between CCI value as a dependent and age and alcohol intake as independent cofactors (R 2 = 0.45; P = 0.0000). In Group E 2 significant correlation was established between CCI as a dependent factor and age, toluene in air, and alcohol intake (R 2 = 0.72; P = 0.0001), or between CCI as dependent and age, toluene in blood and alcohol intake as independent cofactors (R 2 = 0.68; P = 0.0002). In Group E 1 significant correlation was established only between CCI and age ( P < 0.005). In Group E 2, AACCI value significantly correlated with toluene in air ( P < 0.0001), toluene in blood (r < 0.0005), orthocresol ( P < 0.005) and hippuric acid ( P < 0.005) in urine after workshift. There were no differences between smokers and nonsmokers in CCI values in the examined groups. Results of this study indicate that toluene in exposed workers can impair color vision. The role of alcohol intake and age influence on color vision loss cannot be ignored in such workers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 33:297–304, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.