Effects of High Doses of Toluene on Color Vision

High exposure to toluene may cause optic neuropathy and retinopathy, both associated with dyschromatopsia. Another solvent, ethanol, is known to induce acute blue–yellow dyschromatopsia. This study investigated the acute effects of high doses of toluene on color vision. Eight male printshop workers...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neurotoxicology and teratology 1999, Vol.21 (1), p.41-45
Main Authors: Muttray, Axel, Wolters, Volkmar, Jung, Detlev, Konietzko, Johannes
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases
Color Perception - drug effects
Color vision
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Occupational exposure
Occupational Exposure - adverse effects
Printer
Printing
Solvents
Toluene
Toluene - blood
Toluene - toxicity
Toxicology
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Summary:High exposure to toluene may cause optic neuropathy and retinopathy, both associated with dyschromatopsia. Another solvent, ethanol, is known to induce acute blue–yellow dyschromatopsia. This study investigated the acute effects of high doses of toluene on color vision. Eight male printshop workers were examined before and after cleaning printing containers with pure toluene. After cleaning, concentrations of toluene in blood were between 3.61 and 7.37 mg/l. Color vision was tested with the Farnsworth panel D-15 test, the Lanthony desaturated panel D-15 test, and the Standard Pseudoisochromatic Plates part 2. For control of possible acute effects, eight workers of a metal-working factory without any neurotoxic exposure were tested according to the same procedure. Acute exposure to toluene did not cause impairment of color vision. However, statistical power is limited due to the small number of exposed subjects. Color vision of the printshop workers tested before cleaning was slightly impaired (statistically not significant) when compared with unexposed subjects.
ISSN:0892-0362
1872-9738
DOI:10.1016/S0892-0362(98)00027-0