Effects of experimental exposure to triethylamine on vision and the eye

• Published in: Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England) Vol. 56; no. 1; pp. 1 - 5
• Main Authors: Järvinen, P, Engström, K, Riihimäki, V, Ruusuvaara, P, Setälä, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.01.1999; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Adult; Amines; Biological and medical sciences; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Contrast Sensitivity - drug effects; Cornea; Corneal Edema - chemically induced; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Edema; Endothelial cells; Epithelium; Epithelium, Corneal - drug effects; Ethylamines - administration & dosage; Ethylamines - adverse effects; Ethylamines - pharmacokinetics; Exposure; Eyes; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Metallurgy; Middle Aged; Occupational Diseases - chemically induced; Tea; Tears - metabolism; Toxicology; triethylamine; Various organic compounds; Vision; Vision Disorders - chemically induced; Visual acuity; Visual Acuity - drug effects; Visual contrast sensitivity; Visual perception; Human; Evaluation; Ambient air concentration; Cornea; Healthy subject; Activity concentration relation; Toxicity; Vision; Tertiary amine; Visual acuity; Exposure; Biological effect
• ISSN: 1351-0711; 1470-7926
• DOI: 10.1136/oem.56.1.1

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.