Long-Term Occupational Exposure to Organic Solvents Affects Color Vision, Contrast Sensitivity and Visual Fields

Autor(es)

Costa, Thiago Leiros ^{[1, 2]} ; Salgueiro Barboni, Mirella Telles ^{[1, 2]} ; de Araujo Moura, Ana Laura ^{[1, 2]} ; Oliveira Bonci, Daniela Maria ^{[1, 2]} ; Gualtieri, Mirella ^{[1, 2]} ; de Lima Silveira, Luiz Carlos ^{[3, 4]} ; Ventura, Dora Fix ^{[1, 2]}

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Psicol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Nucleo Neurociencias & Comportamento, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Fed Univ Para, Dept Fisiol, BR-66059 Belem, Para - Brazil

^[4] Fed Univ Para, Nucleo Med Trop, BR-66059 Belem, Para - Brazil

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: PLoS One; v. 7, n. 8 AUG 15 2012.
• Citações Web of Science: 16

Resumo

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the visual outcome of chronic occupational exposure to a mixture of organic solvents by measuring color discrimination, achromatic contrast sensitivity and visual fields in a group of gas station workers. We tested 25 workers (20 males) and 25 controls with no history of chronic exposure to solvents (10 males). All participants had normal ophthalmologic exams. Subjects had worked in gas stations on an average of 9.6 +/- 6.2 years. Color vision was evaluated with the Lanthony D15d and Cambridge Colour Test (CCT). Visual field assessment consisted of white-on-white 24-2 automatic perimetry (Humphrey II-750i). Contrast sensitivity was measured for sinusoidal gratings of 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0 cycles per degree (cpd). Results from both groups were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. The number of errors in the D15d was higher for workers relative to controls (p<0.01). Their CCT color discrimination thresholds were elevated compared to the control group along the protan, deutan and tritan confusion axes (p<0.01), and their ellipse area and ellipticity were higher (p<0.01). Genetic analysis of subjects with very elevated color discrimination thresholds excluded congenital causes for the visual losses. Automated perimetry thresholds showed elevation in the 9 degrees, 15 degrees and 21 degrees of eccentricity (p<0.01) and in MD and PSD indexes (p<0.01). Contrast sensitivity losses were found for all spatial frequencies measured (p<0.01) except for 0.5 cpd. Significant correlation was found between previous working years and deutan axis thresholds (rho = 0.59; p<0.05), indexes of the Lanthony D15d (rho = 0.52; p<0.05), perimetry results in the fovea (rho = -0.51; p<0.05) and at 3, 9 and 15 degrees of eccentricity (rho = -0.46; p<0.05). Extensive and diffuse visual changes were found, suggesting that specific occupational limits should be created. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 08/58731-2 - A visão como indicador de processos lesivos na retina e no sistema nervoso central
• Beneficiário: Dora Selma Fix Ventura
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 07/55125-1 - Avaliação eletrofisiológica e psicofísica das vias visuais on e off em jovens com Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne
• Beneficiário: Mirella Telles Salgueiro Barboni
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 09/07089-1 - Repercussões visuais da exposição ocupacional a solventes
• Beneficiário: Thiago Leiros Costa
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Mestrado
• Processo FAPESP: 08/52427-0 - Avaliação de funções visuais na esclerose múltipla
• Beneficiário: ANA LAURA DE ARAUJO MOURA
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Doutorado Direto
• Processo FAPESP: 02/12733-8 - Perdas sensoriais causadas pela intoxicação mercurial: estudos psicofísicos e neurofisiológicos em pacientes e em modelos animais
• Beneficiário: Dora Selma Fix Ventura
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático