title: Chemical and traumatic occupational eye exposures in aviation personnel.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The eye is vulnerable to chemical exposure and foreign body infiltration in the occupational setting. Individuals working in the aviation field are prone to these types of exposures.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a 28-mo retrospective chart review to document the number of airline workers complaining of chemical or foreign body exposure to the eye at an onsite airport medical clinic. The International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9), code for chemical conjunctivitis (372.5), was used to identify patients' charts. We documented the type of treatment that was initiated and whether there was eye damage. We further investigated the chemical composition of the products and whether there was any associated toxicity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Few instances of chemical exposure and foreign body infiltration were found. Patients were exposed to the following products: lubricants (e.g., naphthenic oils), hydraulic fluid (e.g., petroleum or phosphate ester based), jet fuel (e.g., kerosene), and de-icing agents (e.g., propylene glycol). There was no documentation regarding the use of personal protection equipment in the patients' charts. All patients received eye irrigation with normal saline. No sequelae were documented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Airline personnel are exposed to a variety of chemical agents in the workplace. None of the agents that workers were exposed to in this small study exhibited toxic effects to the eye. Proper use of personal protection equipment in aviation personnel may limit the number of chemical and foreign body eye exposures.
authors.affiliation: Cook County Hospital (Stroger), Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
authors.forename: Harry C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Karydes
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Zautcke
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zell-Kanter
mesh_terms: D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D005579:Fossil Fuels / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D054327:Lubricants / Q000009:adverse effects; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012997:Solvents / Q000009:adverse effects; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation
chemical_list: D005579:Fossil Fuels; D054327:Lubricants; D012997:Solvents