title: Case series of keratitis in poultry abattoir workers induced by exposure to the ultraviolet disinfection lamp.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An outbreak of eye diseases occurred among workers at a poultry abattoir in South Korea from December 2012 to June 2013. An epidemiological investigation of the causative agent was conducted. The workers were given a special health examination and workplace environmental monitoring was performed. Workers with ocular symptoms subsequently underwent an ophthalmic examination.
  From a total of 41 workers, 26 (63.4 %) were diagnosed with keratoepitheliopathy by ophthalmic examination. Environmental monitoring of the workplace revealed that the ultraviolet (UV) apron-disinfection lamp had not been turning off at the set times, and so the workers' faces had been exposed to UV radiation. Effective radiation dose measurement showed a UV-B exposure of 7-30 μW/cm(2), and a UV-C exposure of 40-200 μW/cm(2); both values exceed the occupational exposure limits. The outbreak ceased after the lamp was repaired.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case shows that inappropriate use of the UV disinfection lamp can cause mass photokeratitis. In order to prevent this, the UV disinfection lamp must be checked regularly, workers must be educated on the health effects of UV radiation, and appropriate eye protection must be worn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, 322, Seoyang-ro, Hwasun-eup, Hwasun-gun, 519-763 Hwasun, Jeollanam-do Korea.
authors.forename: Do-Hyeong
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, 322, Seoyang-ro, Hwasun-eup, Hwasun-gun, 519-763 Hwasun, Jeollanam-do Korea.
authors.forename: Jai-Dong
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1081-9840
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, 322, Seoyang-ro, Hwasun-eup, Hwasun-gun, 519-763 Hwasun, Jeollanam-do Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Ju
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, 322, Seoyang-ro, Hwasun-eup, Hwasun-gun, 519-763 Hwasun, Jeollanam-do Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Yang
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, 322, Seoyang-ro, Hwasun-eup, Hwasun-gun, 519-763 Hwasun, Jeollanam-do Korea.
authors.forename: Soo-Hyeon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, 322, Seoyang-ro, Hwasun-eup, Hwasun-gun, 519-763 Hwasun, Jeollanam-do Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeong-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, 322, Seoyang-ro, Hwasun-eup, Hwasun-gun, 519-763 Hwasun, Jeollanam-do Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Sung
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, 322, Seoyang-ro, Hwasun-eup, Hwasun-gun, 519-763 Hwasun, Jeollanam-do Korea.
authors.forename: Hong-Jae
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chae
keywords: Photokeratitis; Poultry abattoir; South Korea; Ultraviolet