title: Suspended onion particles and potential corneal injury in onion harvesters.
abstract: The authors suspected that suspended onion particles contributed to corneal ulcers in onion harvesters in southern Taiwan. In the present study, the authors used manikins to study suspended onion particles in fields in an effort to simulate typical conditions experienced by onion harvesters. An animal eye-exposure simulation study was also performed by the authors, who impacted suspended soil grains or onion particles onto the corneas of guinea pigs via aerosol generated from the Palas dispersion nozzle. The average size of 25.9 pm for suspended particles collected during the digging of onions was the largest one of those for various harvesting activities. Some onion skin flakes were found in samples obtained from gathering and packing activities; the typical flake size was approximately 3.5 x 2.5 mm2. The results of the animal study indicated that the size of soil grains has a demonstrable effect on the severity of corneal injury (p = .009). With respect to onion skin flakes, wind velocity was also associated significantly with the occurrence of corneal injury (p = .0004). A wind velocity threshold of 7 m/sec is recommended for the maintenance of safety, and if the wind speed exceeds this threshold level, workers should not engage in harvesting activities. Furthermore, use of appropriately designed goggles is necessary for the protection of onion harvesters who work in high-wind conditions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yaw-Huei
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: En-Ju
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Ching-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chih-Chieh
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chi-Kung
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Chih-Liang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Zhih-Young
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chi-Ting
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Tseng
mesh_terms: D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D000818:Animals; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000209:etiology*; D005135:Eye Protective Devices; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D019697:Onions / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012987:Soil; D013624:Taiwan; D014919:Wind
chemical_list: D012987:Soil