Visual Functions in 6-Year-Old Children in Relation to Lead and Mercury Levels

Altmann, L; Sveinsson, Karolina; Krämer, Ursula; Weishoff-Houben, Michaela; Turfeld, Martina; Winneke, Gerhard; Wiegand, Herbert

doi:10.1016/s0892-0362(97)00070-6

Cited by 58 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…The VCS deficits spanned the spatial frequency spectrum in both exposed groups, similar to the VCS deficit profiles seen in other solvent exposed populations (21)(22)(23)(24)(25)(26) and in contrast to the VCS spatial-frequency profiles observed in populations exposed to methyl mercury (44,45) and inorganic mercury (46,47). Differences between the shapes of altered VCS spatial-frequency profiles can indicate differential effects of various toxic exposures (40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

“…The possible trend toward worse color discrimination seen in the residential study, but not in the day care investigation, may have been caused by chance or a higher lifetime perc exposure (based on study mean perc concentration; Table 2) in the residential study (3,400 µg/m 3 years) than in the day care investigation (1,978 µg/m 3 years). In either case, the current results suggested that VCS may surpass color discrimination in sensitivity, perhaps caused by higher variability in color discrimination scores from control populations (99) than in VCS scores (40,(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…Persistent or permanent VCS deficits in the presence of normal visual acuity have been observed in workers exposed to styrene (21,22) and mixed solvents (23)(24)(25)(26), as have color discrimination deficits (27)(28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37)(38) in the absence of detectable optical, retinal, or optic nerve head pathology (39). VCS, a nonspecific indicator of subclinical visual impairment (40), also revealed neurologic effects associated with exposure to toxic Pfiesteria sp.-inhabited estuaries (40)(41)(42), with lead and mercury exposure (43)(44)(45)(46)(47), and was useful in differentiating vision effects from other exposure-induced deficits in neurobehavioral functions (48).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Apartment residents' and day care workers' exposures to tetrachloroethylene and deficits in visual contrast sensitivity.

Schreiber¹,

Hudnell²,

Geller³

et al. 2002

Environ Health Perspect

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Tetrachloroethylene (also called perchloroethylene, or perc), a volatile organic compound, has been the predominant solvent used by the dry-cleaning industry for many years. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified perc as a hazardous air pollutant because of its potential adverse impact on human health. Several occupational studies have indicated that chronic, airborne perc exposure adversely affects neurobehavioral functions in workers, particularly visual color discrimination and tasks dependent on rapid visual-information processing. A 1995 study by Altmann and colleagues extended these findings, indicating that environmental perc exposure at a mean level of 4,980 microg/m(3) (median=1,360 microg/m(3)) alters neurobehavioral functions in residents living near dry-cleaning facilities. Although the U.S. EPA has not yet set a reference concentration guideline level for environmental exposure to airborne perc, the New York State Department of Health set an air quality guideline of 100 microg/m(3). In the current residential study, we investigated the potential for perc exposure and neurologic effects, using a battery of visual-system function tests, among healthy members of six families living in two apartment buildings in New York City that contained dry-cleaning facilities on the ground floors. In addition, a day care investigation assessed the potential for perc exposure and effects among workers at a day care center located in the same one-story building as a dry-cleaning facility. Results from the residential study showed a mean exposure level of 778 microg/m(3) perc in indoor air for a mean of 5.8 years, and that perc levels in breath, blood, and urine were 1-2 orders of magnitude in excess of background values. Group-mean visual contrast sensitivity (VCS), a measure of the ability to detect visual patterns, was significantly reduced in the 17 exposed study participants relative to unexposed matched-control participants. The groups did not differ in visual acuity, suggesting that the VCS deficit was of neurologic origin. Healthy workers in the day care investigation were chronically exposed to airborne perc at a mean of 2,150 microg/m(3) for a mean of 4.0 years. Again, group-mean VCS, measured 6 weeks after exposure cessation, was significantly reduced in the nine exposed workers relative to matched controls, and the groups did not differ significantly in visual acuity. These results suggested that chronic, environmental exposure to airborne perc adversely affects neurobehavioral function in healthy individuals. Further research is needed to assess the susceptibility of the young and elderly to perc-induced effects, to determine whether persistent solvent-induced VCS deficits are a risk factor for the development of neurologic disease, and to identify the no observable adverse effect level for chronic, environmental, perc exposure in humans.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 60%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Apartment residents' and day care workers' exposures to tetrachloroethylene and deficits in visual contrast sensitivity.

Schreiber¹,

Hudnell²,

Geller³

et al. 2002

Environ Health Perspect

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show abstract

“…A study of 384 6-year-old German children with a geometric mean PbB concentration of 4.3 μg/dL (range, 1.4-17.4 μg/dL) from three environmentally contaminated areas in East and West Germany found significant lead-related deficits for two out of three visual evoked potentials (VEP) interpeak latencies after adjusting for confounding effects (Altmann et al 1998). No association was found between PbB concentrations and VEP amplitudes.…”

Section: Other Neurological Effects In Childrenmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These results confirmed previous findings from the same group of investigators (Winneke et al 1994). Altmann et al (1998) also measured visual contrast sensitivity and found no significant association between this parameter and lead. Alterations in scotopic (rod-mediated)…”

Section: Other Neurological Effects In Childrenmentioning

confidence: 99%