Glaucopsia—blue-grey vision

Jones, W. T., and Kipling, M. D. (1972).Brit. J. industr. Med.,29, 460-461. Glaucopsia—blue-grey vision. Blue-grey vision due to the effect of certain amines on the eye is a recognized but generally little known phenomenon. We review previous accounts of the condition and describe our experience of its occurrences. We consider the condition should be known as `glaucopsia'.     

Effects of experimental exposure to triethylamine on vision and the eye

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of triethylamine (TEA) on the cornea and to evaluate the cause of blurred vision. To find the lowest observed effect concentration of exposure to TEA. METHODS: Four people were exposed to TEA for 4 hours at concentrations of 40.6, 6.5, and 3.0 mg/m3. Before and after every exposure, symptoms and ocular microscopy findings were recorded. Binocular visual acuity and contrast sensitivity at 2.5% contrast were also measured. Also, before and after the 40.6 mg/m3 exposure, corneal thickness was measured and ocular dimensions were recorded by ultrasonography, endothelial cells of the cornea were analysed, and serum and lacrimal specimens were collected for the analysis of TEA. RESULTS: After exposure to 40.6 mg/m3 TEA there was a marked oedema in the corneal epithelium and subepithelial microcysts. However, corneal thickness increased only minimally because of the epithelial oedema. The lacrimal concentrations of TEA were, on average (range) 41 (18-83) times higher than the serum TEA concentrations. The vision was blurred in all subjects and visual acuity and contrast sensitivity had decreased in three of the four subjects. After exposure to TEA at 6.5 mg/m3 two subjects experienced symptoms, and contrast sensitivity had decreased in three of the four subjects. There were no symptoms or decreases in contrast sensitivity after exposure to a TEA concentration of 3.0 mg/m3. CONCLUSIONS: TEA caused a marked oedema and microcysts in corneal epithelium but only minor increases in corneal thickness. The effects may be mediated by the lacrimal fluid owing to its high TEA concentration. Four hour exposure to a TEA concentration of 3.0 mg/m3 seemed to cause no effects, whereas exposure to 6.5 mg/m3 for the same period caused blurred vision and a decrease in contrast sensitivity.

 

     

Health hazards of tertiary amine catalysts

Tertiary amine catalysts are widely employed in foundry and polyurethane foam manufacture operations. These highly reactive amines have been associated with graphic disturbances in vision and systemic health effects. Prominent among the reported effects on vision are mydriasis (dilated pupils), cycloplegia (loss of accommodation), and corneal edema, which may result in hazy (looking through smoke) or blurry (out of focus) vision and halo perception. Systemic symptoms, possibly due to a release of endogenous histamine, are consistent with pharmacologic actions of amines and have also been described. These symptoms, as well as the disturbances in vision, are transient. Nevertheless, employees who work with or around machinery, or drive vehicles, may be at an increased risk of accident and injury when experiencing these symptoms.     

Amines as occupational hazards for visual disturbance

Various amines, such as triethylamine and N,N-dimethylethylamine, have been reported to cause glaucopsia in workers employed in epoxy, foundry, and polyurethane foam industries. This symptom has been related to corneal edema and vesicular collection of fluid within the corneal subepithelial cells. Exposure to amine vapors for 30 min to several hours leads to blurring of vision, a blue-grey appearance of objects, and halos around lights, that are probably reversible. Concentration-effect relationships have been established. The visual disturbance is considered a nuisance, as it could cause onsite accidents, impair work efficiency, and create difficulties in driving back home. Occupational exposure limits have been established for some amines, but there is shortage of criteria. Volatility factors, such as vapor pressure, should be considered in industrial settings to prevent human ocular risks, while trying to reduce levels of hazardous amines in the atmosphere.     

仙居县部分60岁及以上人群盲和低视力患病率及病因分析

目的调查仙居县部分60岁及以上老年人盲和低视力患病情况及致病原因。方法对仙居县60岁以上白内障复明老年人,分别检查小孔视力和日常生活视力,应用裂隙灯显微镜和直接检眼镜等仪器检查受栓者外眼、眼前节及眼底等情况。根据小孔视力世界卫生组织视力损伤标准（标准A）、日常生活视力和视力损伤标准（标准B）计算低视力和盲的患病率。结果以标准A计算低视力和盲的患病率,单眼低视力患病率为4．5％,双眼低视力患病率为2．6％;单眼盲患病率为3．9％．双眼盲患病率为2．5％。根据标准B计算视力损伤和盲患病率,视力损伤患病率为5．5％,单眼盲患病率为5．1％,轻度双眼盲患病率为0．6％,重度双眼盲患病率为1．8％。低视力和盲患病率在年龄、性别及文化程度方面存在差异。可致低视力和盲性眼病中以白内障占51．3％,其次为屈光不正（21．3％）,再次是角膜病（11．3％）。结论仙居县部分老年人盲和低视力患病率随年龄的增加而增加,女性与文盲的盲和低视力患病率分别高于男性与非文盲。白内障、屈光不正和角膜病应是仙居县部分老年人低视力和盲的防治重点。     

Childhood Vision Impairment and Refractive Error in Zimbabwe: A Hospital-based Retrospective Study

BackgroundThe objective of this study was to determine the causes and distribution of vision impairment and refractive error among children in Zimbabwe.MethodsA hospital-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted among children (3–16) who attended the Eye Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe, from January 2010 to December 2020. Patients'' records were collated, and variables such as visual acuity, ocular morbidities, and vision impairment were analysed.ResultsDuring this time, 1038 children with mean age of 10.63 ± 3.54 years visited the facility. The majority of them were males (53.2%). Prior to treatment, 9.9% of the children had vision impairment which reduced to 3.5% after intervention. Uncorrected refractive error accounted for the majority of vision impairment (67.0%), followed by keratoconus (7.8%), corneal opacity/ulceration (6.8%), and amblyopia (6.8%), among other conditions. Astigmatism (60.6%) was the most prevalent type of refractive error followed by myopia (37.5%).ConclusionThe prevalence of childhood vision impairment is higher than that found in similar hospital-based studies conducted in Africa. The most common reason for childhood vision impairment was uncorrected refractive error.     

Is colour vision impairment associated with cognitive impairment in solvent exposed workers?

Methods: A sample of 82 painters and 38 other subjects were studied. Alcohol, drug, and smoking histories were obtained. Colour vision was tested using the Lanthony D-15-d colour vision test. Cognitive impairment was measured using the Benton visual retention test, Trail making A, and Trail making B tests. Pre-morbid IQ was estimated using the National Adult Reading Test. Solvent exposure in all subjects was estimated using a previously validated, structured subjective assessment methodology.

Results: After exclusion of subjects with competing causes of colour vision impairment the final group of men numbered 78. There was a significant association on multiple linear regression between the mean colour confusion index (CCI) and three measures of cognitive impairment, the Benton visual retention test, Trail making A, and Trail making B tests after adjusting for the effects of age (or IQ as appropriate), alcohol, and smoking.

Conclusion: Acquired colour vision loss is associated with cognitive impairment in solvent exposed workers. However, given the prevalence of acquired colour vision losses in the adult population, colour vision testing is unlikely to be of value as a screening test.

     

Prevalence of Common Ocular Morbidities in Adult Population of Aligarh

Aims and Objectives:

To determine the prevalence of common ocular morbidities (cataract, refractive errors, glaucoma, and corneal opacities) and their demographic and sociocultural correlates.

Settings and Design:

The present cross-sectional study was conducted in the field practice areas of the Department of Community Medicine, JNMC, AMU, Aligarh, for a period of one year, from September 2005 to August 2006.

Materials and Methods:

Systematic random sampling was done to select the required sample size. All adults aged 20 years and above in the selected households were interviewed and screened using a 6/9 illiterate ‘E’ chart. Those who could not read the ‘E’ chart were referred to the respective health training center for a complete eye examination by an ophthalmologist.

Statistical Analysis:

Chi- square test.

Results:

The prevalence of visual impairment, low vision, and blindness, based on presenting visual acuity was 13.0, 7.8, and 5.3%, respectively. The prevalence of cataract was 21.7%. Bilateral cataract was present in 16.9% of the population. Cataract was significantly associated with age, education, and fuel use. The prevalence of myopia, hypermetropia, and astigmatism was 11.5, 9.8, and 3.7%, respectively. Glaucoma was diagnosed in six patients, giving a prevalence rate of 0.9%. All the six patients of glaucoma were aged above 40 years. The prevalence of corneal opacity was 4.2%.

Conclusion:

There is a high prevalence of treatable or preventable morbidities such as cataract, refractive errors, and corneal opacity.     

Differential effects of lead exposure on components of verbal memory

Aims: To determine if verbal learning and memory requiring acquisition and retention of information is differentially affected by lead exposure.

Methods: The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), a test of verbal learning and memory, was administered to 256 English speaking lead smelter workers who had a mean (SD) age of 41 (9.4) years and employment duration of 17 (8.1) years. Lead exposure variables, based on up to 25 years of prior blood lead data, included a mean (SD) current blood lead (PbB) of 28 (8.8) µg/dl, working lifetime time weighted average blood lead (TWA) of 39 (12.3) µg/dl, and working lifetime integrated blood lead index (IBL) of 728 (434.4) µg-y/dl. Associations of these chronic and recent lead exposure variables with measures from the RAVLT were modelled through multiple linear regressions after controlling for age and educational achievement.

Results: PbB was not associated with any of the RAVLT variables. However, TWA and IBL contributed significantly to the explanation of variance of measures of encoding/storage and retrieval but not to immediate memory span, attention, and learning. Grouping study participants by RAVLT performance according to three recognised clinical memory paradigms showed significantly higher TWA and IBL in the group with "generalised memory impairment" after adjusting for age and educational achievement. We examined recall mechanisms in each group by serial position in the word list and found stronger primacy (recall of words from the beginning of the list) in the "no impairment" and "retrieval difficulties" groups while the "generalised memory impairment" group had better performance on recency (recall of words from the end of the list).

Conclusions: Lead exposure over years and not PbB interfered with the organisation and recall of previously learned verbal material. Chronic lead exposure affects encoding/storage and retrieval of verbal information.

     

立体视觉缺损对弱视儿童弱视眼视功能的影响分析

目的:探究立体视觉缺损对弱视儿童弱视眼的视力、游标视力及对比敏感度的影响。方法:采集了257例弱视患者的立体视觉及弱视眼的视力、游标视力、边界对比敏感度和光栅视力数据,并用SPSS及MatLab软件进行统计分析。结果:①在相同的光栅视力水平下,成人弱视中有立体视觉组(立体视≤800 s)弱视眼的视力、游标视力和边界对比敏感度与无立体视觉组(立体视>800 s)相比,差异有统计学意义(P=0.000 4,P=0.006 2,P=0.031 8);②在相同的光栅视力水平下,弱视儿童中有立体视觉组弱视眼的视力与无立体视觉组相比,差异有统计学意义(P=0.000 2);③在相同的光栅视力水平下,弱视儿童中有立体视觉组弱视眼的游标视力、边界对比敏感度与无立体视觉组相比,差异无统计学意义(P=0.115 8,P=0.260 2)。结论:弱视儿童弱视眼的视力在无立体视觉的情况下缺损更严重,而游标视力和对比敏感度无显著的变化。但在视觉发育敏感期后,无立体视觉的弱视患者弱视眼的游标视力显著差于有立体视觉的患者。因此,在弱视的治疗过程中,对于无立体视觉的患儿,当弱视眼的视力恢复到一定水平后,应该积极配合立体视觉训练,以助于弱视眼的康复。     

Protection of Employees with Defective Vision

An employer has a special duty towards a one-eyed man (Paris v. Stepney Borough Council, 1951) but does not have a special duty to a man with normal sight because employment could normally continue with good monocular vision. Clearly, a man with very defective vision in one eye needs the same consideration as a one-eyed man so we examined the level of visual acuity which should alert the employer to giving a man special consideration.

Two consultant oculists examined a chemist with Leber's syndrome and found 6/24 vision in each eye. One consultant advised taking greater care of the man's eyes because if one eye was lost, or became further damaged, he would have difficulty in continuing laboratory work. His colleague advised that the loss to the man would be of binocular vision and a no greater proportional loss than to the man with normal sight.

Loss of binocular vision is considered greater in a man with poor eyesight because his visual acuity might, as in the present case, go from 6/18 using both eyes to 6/24 using one. We consider that wherever an employee's (corrected) sight is 6/18 or less in either eye then his case should be given special consideration which may then indicate the need for the provision of extra eye protection.

     

非超声乳化小切口白内障手术后低视力原因分析

目的分析非超声乳化小切口白内障摘除、人工晶体植入术后低视力的原因。方法对非超声乳化小切口白内障术后500只眼，根据我国低视力诊断标准，应用国际标准视力表进行检查。术后3月最佳矫正视力虽均在0．05以上，但有54眼仍不足0．3。分析此54眼低视力的原因。结果与手术有关的术后低视力为10眼，占术后低视力总数的18．52％，其中后发性白内障5眼、葡萄膜炎3眼、角膜水肿及角膜失代偿2眼。非手术并发症所致的低视力有44眼，占术后低视力的81．48％，其中高度近视黄斑病变13眼、老年性黄斑变性12眼、糖尿病性视网膜病变5眼、玻璃体混3眼、角膜白斑3眼、青光眼视神经损害2眼、视网膜色素变性2眼、外伤所致瞳孔上移2眼、视神经萎缩1眼、陈旧性视网膜脉络脉病变1眼。结论严格术前检查，规范操作，减少术中术后并发症。对低视力的高危患者，应引起高度重视，以避免医疗纠纷。     

Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity measurements after experimental triethylamine exposures

Objective: The objective was to define the dose-response for triethylamine (TEA) vapour-induced visual changes. Methods: Four core makers were exposed in a dynamically-controlled whole-body chamber to TEA for 4 h at the concentrations of 40.6, 6.5 and 3.0 mg/m³. Before and after the exposure binocular visual acuity and contrast sensitivity at 2.5% contrast were measured. The visual measurements were carried out with the use of optotype test charts (Precision Vision, Villa Park, Ill. USA). The outcome was determined as a change in the rows of the test chart. Results: Visual acuity decreased in three of the four subjects after 40.6 mg/m³ TEA exposure, and remained at the pre-exposure level after 6.5 and 3.0 mg/m³ exposures. Contrast sensitivity at 2.5% contrast decreased in the same three subjects after 40.6 and 6.5 mg/m³ TEA exposures but remained at the pre-exposure level in all subjects after the TEA exposure of 3.0 mg/m³. Conclusions: TEA exposure over 4 h at the concentration of 3.0 mg/m³ in air caused no changes in contrast sensitivity. A corresponding exposure at the concentration of 6.5 mg/m³ caused deterioration in contrast sensitivity in most subjects. Because the blurring of vision occurs within 4 h after the start of working with TEA the results can probably be applied for the setting of an 8 h occupational exposure limit. Moreover, the results are consistent with the current 4.1 mg/m³ ACGIH TLV.     

Relation between colour vision loss and occupational styrene exposure level

Aims: To investigate the relation between colour vision loss and the exposure level of styrene. Exposure level included the current exposure concentration, past cumulative exposure, and the maximum exposure level in the past.

Methods: Colour vision was examined by the Lanthony desaturated panel D-15 test for 76 subjects exposed to styrene in a fibreglass reinforced plastics boat plant (as an exposed group) and 102 non-exposed subjects (as a control group). The current exposure level was expressed by the concentration of atmospheric styrene and end shift urinary mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) levels. The individual cumulative exposure index (CEI) was calculated, based on the exposure frequency and urinary MA concentrations measured for the past eight years.

Results: The Colour Confusion Index (CCI) of the exposed group showed a significant difference from the age matched controls. However, only a slight significant relation was found between CCI and the concentration of urinary MA plus PGA. In this study, the exposed group was further divided into two subgroups (as sub-MA+PGA groups) by the median of urinary MA plus PGA of each subject. The dividing line between the subgroups was 0.24 g/g creatinine, which was equivalent to an atmospheric concentration of styrene of about 10 ppm. The CCI values of both the sub-MA+PGA groups were significantly higher than that of the control group. The relation between CCI value and the maximum exposure concentration in the past eight years was examined. It was found that the CCI values of the group with the maximum exposure concentration of styrene over 50 ppm were significantly higher than that of the other groups.

Conclusions: Exposure to styrene would impair colour vision even if the exposure concentration was lower than 10 ppm. Furthermore, if the maximum concentration of styrene exposure transiently exceeded 50 ppm in the past, the styrene related damage might remain. Thus, the safe limit of exposure to styrene and the relation between exposure to styrene and the degree of damage to ocular structure, retina, optic nerve, and brain need to be re-examined.

     

甘肃省新型冠状病毒肺炎病例的临床及流行病学特征

 

目的 探讨甘肃省新型冠状病毒肺炎（新冠肺炎）确诊患者的临床及流行病学特征。方法 收集 2020年 1月23日-2月20日甘肃省确诊的91例新冠肺炎患者病历资料,分析其流行病学、临床表现以及影像学特征。结果 91例新冠肺炎患者分布于全省11个地州市,其中聚集性发病13起,2020年1月25日-2月10日 为甘肃省新冠肺炎发病高峰区间。具有明确流行病史者62例,其中来源于湖北疫区者10例（14.1%）,密切接触新冠肺炎患者引起聚集性发病者52例（73.2%）。临床分型轻型及普通型76例,重型及危重型15例。截至 2月20日,治愈65例（71.4%）,治疗中24例（26.4%）,死亡2例（2.2%）。71例临床和影像资料完整的病例中,男性32例（45.1%）,中位年龄45（1~94）岁,中位潜伏期为6（1~13）d。就诊时临床症状主要包括：发热（60例,84.5%）、 咳嗽（65例,91.5%）、咳痰（23例,32.4%）、乏力（25例,35.2%）以及气短（10例,14.1%）。特征性CT影像改变包括：以磨玻璃影和/或斑片影（65例,91.5%）,支气管充气征和/或实变影（18例,25.4%）,晕或反晕征（15例,21.1%）,其中20例（28.2%）患者CT图像出现合并改变,包括磨玻璃影和/或斑片影合并支气管充气征和/或实变影（11例,15.5%）,以及磨玻璃影和/或斑片影合并晕或反晕征（9例,12.7%）。结论 甘肃省新冠肺炎大部分病例具有明确的流行病学特征,以输入性和聚集性发病为主,该病发病无性别差异,具有普遍易感性,胸部CT的影像学特征有助于临床诊断。

     

The Impact of Visual Impairment and Use of Eye Services on Health-Related Quality of Life among the Elderly in Taiwan: The Shihpai Eye Study

To evaluate the effect of impaired vision on health-related quality of life (HRQoL), the authors administered the Medical Outcomes Survey Short-Form 36 (SF-36) to the elderly in a metropolitan Taiwanese community and assessed their visual impairment status. A structured questionnaire was used for door-to-door data collection. Interviewers also collected information on demographics, medical history, and HRQoL. Those who were interviewed were invited to the study hospital for a detailed eye examination. An eye examination, including presenting visual acuity and best-corrected visual acuity, was conducted by ophthalmologists. Presenting visual acuity and best-corrected visual acuity were measured in the better eye. Impaired vision was defined as presenting visual acuity in the better-seeing eye worse than 6/12 (or 20/40) and was used to evaluate the correlation to HRQoL. A total of 1361 subjects at least 65 years of age participated in both the interview and eye examination. Internal-consistency and test-retest reliability of the eight scales were high. Based on the separate multiple regression model, after controlling for all other covariates, subjects in contact with vision services offered by an ophthalmologist had more positive scores on general health perceptions (beta = 4.29; p < 0.001), vitality/energy (beta = 2.73; p < 0.001), and mental health (beta = 2.06; p = 0.01). Impaired vision was associated with significantly lower scores in physical functioning (beta = -3.62; p < 0.001) and social functioning scales (beta = -3.25; p = 0.015). The findings suggest that visual impairment is associated with lower quality of life and use of eye care services is associated with higher quality of life.     

Memory one month after acute carbon monoxide intoxication: a prospective study

Background: Serious delayed neuropsychological sequelae may complicate carbon monoxide intoxication. The existence of minor manifestations, especially memory disturbances, is not well documented.

Aims: To study several memory functions after carbon monoxide intoxication.

Methods: In a prospective study, 32 poisoned patients without risk factors for cognitive disturbances were compared to 32 paired control subjects one month after acute carbon monoxide intoxication (blood carbon monoxide concentration at least 1.0 mmol/l), who had been treated with standard conventional therapy. Psychometric tests included Buschke's verbal memory testing, verbal digit span, Corsi's visuospatial span, reaction times, Stroop's colours decoding test, and verbal fluency test.

Results: (1) Memory functions in poisoned subjects were not worse than in the control group and were even better in some areas: learning, word recall, and quality of learning by Buschke's verbal memory testing. Attention was also better in the patients, in whom visual reaction time was shorter than in controls. (2) Results of several memory functions—quality of learning and immediate visual memory—were positively correlated with the initial carbon monoxide level.

Conclusions: In a highly selected subset of patients devoid of risk factors for memory impairment, memory, objectively evaluated by psychometric testing, was not worse one month after carbon monoxide intoxication in patients undergoing standard treatment than in paired control subjects.

     

Impaired vision in the elderly: a preventable condition

BACKGROUND: Vision is thought to deteriorate with age as a number of factors in later life endanger eyesight. Assessment of the visual acuity of the elderly and identification of endangering factors help in detecting those with impaired vision which in turn impairs daily activities. OBJECTIVE: This study measured the visual acuity of the senior citizens and identified those with impaired vision. The probable contributing factors for impaired vision were studied with the aim of preventing visual impairment. METHOD: The study was part of a screening campaign for elderly glaucoma in the community. A convenience sample of ambulatory senior citizens from stratified localities had their visual acuity measured with a standard Snellen's chart. The test was repeated with pinholes if the visual acuity was less than 0.5. Those without improvement after pinhole were considered as having impaired vision. People with elevated intraocular pressure by the Pulsair were selected for examination by an ophthalmologist for ocular pathology. RESULTS: For the ambulatory population aged > or = 65 the mean visual acuity of either eye before pinhole was 0.3. Nearly 72% had impaired vision (visual acuity not corrected above 0.5 with pinhole). There was a significant association between this impairment and female sex, history of diabetes mellitus or glaucoma, cataract, and infrequent eye examination. CONCLUSION: Impaired vision is highly prevalent in the elderly ambulatory population, a condition which is preventable by tight surveillance of predisposing factors and regular simple measurement of visual acuity. The primary care setting is most suitable for these activities.      

Breast cancer and serum organochlorine residues

Background: Controversy still exists about the breast carcinogenic properties in humans of environmental xenoestrogens (organochlorines), justifying new investigations.

Aims: To compare the blood levels of total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in samples collected at the time of breast cancer discovery, in order to avoid the potential consequences of body weight change (after chemotherapy or radiotherapy) on the pesticide residue levels.

Methods: Blood levels of HCB and total DDT (we calculated total DDT concentrations by adding all DDT and DDE isomers) were compared in 159 women with breast cancer and 250 presumably healthy controls. Risk of breast cancer associated with organochlorine concentration was evaluated.

Results: Mean levels of total DDT and HCB were significantly higher for breast cancer patients than for controls. No differences in serum levels of total DDT or HCB were found between oestrogen receptor positive and oestrogen receptor negative patients with breast cancer.

Conclusions: These results add to the growing evidence that certain persistent pollutants may occur in higher concentrations in blood samples from breast cancer patients than controls.

     

Are women more sensitive than men to 2-propanol and m-xylene vapours?

Aims: To evaluate possible differences between men and women in acute health effects after controlled short term chamber exposure to vapours of two common organic solvents.

Methods: Fifty six healthy volunteers (28 per sex) were exposed to 150 ppm 2-propanol, 50 ppm m-xylene, and clean air for two hours at rest. The subjects rated symptoms on a visual analogue scale before, during, and after the exposure. Blinking frequency was measured continuously during exposure. Pulmonary function, nasal swelling, inflammatory markers (lysozyme, eosinophilic cationic potein, myeloperoxidase, albumin) in nasal lavage and colour vision (Lanthony D-15 desaturated panel) were measured before and at 0 and 3 hours after the exposure.

Results: There were no significant sex differences in response to solvent exposure with respect to blinking frequency, lung diffusing capacity, nasal area and volume, inflammatory markers in nasal lavage, and colour vision. Increased symptoms were rated by both sexes for nearly all 10 questions during exposure to 2-propanol or m-xylene, most increases being significant at one time point at least. The rating of "discomfort in the throat or airways" increased more in women during exposure to 2-propanol or m-xylene. During exposure to 2-propanol the rating of "fatigue" was more increased in men after one hour, but more increased in women after two hours of exposure. With regard to pulmonary function, women had small but significant decreases in FVC, FEV₁/FVC, and FEF₇₅ three hours after exposure to m-xylene, but only the decrease in FVC was significantly different from that in men.

Conclusion: Our results suggest that women are slightly more sensitive than men to the acute irritative effects of 2-propanol and m-xylene vapours.