Delayed eye and other consequences from exposure to methyl isocyanate: 93% follow up of exposed and unexposed cohorts in Bhopal

A follow up study three years after exposure to methyl isocyanate in 93% of exposed survivors and "control" residents in 10 Bhopali communities showed an excess of eye irritation, eyelid infection, cataract, and a decrease in visual acuity among the exposed people. Breathlessness was twice...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:British Journal of Industrial Medicine 1990-08, Vol.47 (8), p.553-558
Main Authors: Andersson, N, Ajwani, M K, Mahashabde, S, Tiwari, M K, Muir, M K, Mehra, V, Ashiru, K, Mackenzie, C D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Accidents, Occupational
Adolescent
Adult
Age groups
Air
Biological and medical sciences
Cataract - chemically induced
Cataracts
Child
Child, Preschool
Cohort Studies
Cyanates - poisoning
Environmental Exposure
Environmental pollutants toxicology
Eye Diseases - chemically induced
Eyelids
Eyes
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
India
Infant
Infections
Isocyanates
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Referents
Toxicology
Trachoma
Visual acuity
Visual Acuity - drug effects
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Summary:A follow up study three years after exposure to methyl isocyanate in 93% of exposed survivors and "control" residents in 10 Bhopali communities showed an excess of eye irritation, eyelid infection, cataract, and a decrease in visual acuity among the exposed people. Breathlessness was twice as common in the heavily exposed clusters as those with lower exposure, a trend that could not be explained by different age or smoking patterns (OR 2.05, 95% CI 1.36-3.08). Case referent analysis of outpatient attendances at Bhopal Eye Hospital, considering patients with severe refractive errors and astigmatism as "controls," showed a 40% increased risk of trachoma, 36% increased risk of other lid infections, and 45% increased risk of irritant symptoms among previously exposed people. "Bhopal eye syndrome" may thus include full resolution of the initial interpalpebral superficial erosion, a subsequent increased risk of eye infections, hyperresponsive phenomena (irritation, watering, and phlyctens), and possibly cataracts. It remains to be confirmed whether this reflects a more generalised disease as a consequence of previous exposure to methyl isocyanate or whether it is only the eye that is affected.
ISSN:0007-1072
1351-0711
1470-7926
DOI:10.1136/oem.47.8.553