Epidemiological study of eye irritation by hydrogen sulphide and/or carbon disulphide exposure in viscose rayon workers.
In the framework of an extensive health survey 123 male viscose rayon workers exposed to hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and/or carbon disulphide (CS2) and 67 referents not exposed to either of these chemicals answered questions on eye irritation complaints in a self-administered questionnaire. Personal exposure varied from 4 to 112 mg m-3 for CS2 and from 0.2 to 8.9 mg m-3 for H2S. A combined exposure measure was calculated using principal component analysis. The exposed subjects had a significantly higher prevalence of eye pain, burning and photophobia. Adjustment for age and smoking in logistic regression revealed significantly more eye complaints for all workers that were highly exposed. In a postal survey one-third of the ex-workers of the same viscose rayon factory reported having left the factory because of eye complaints, indicating that their occurrence may be underestimated in the cross-sectional study.
Vanhoorne
M
M
Department of Public Health, University of Gent, University Hospital, Belgium.
de Rouck
A
A
de Bacquer
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D002246:Carbon Disulfide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D002482:Cellulose; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D002482:Cellulose; C012024:rayon, purified; D002246:Carbon Disulfide; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide