Can air pollution affect tear film stability? a cross-sectional study in the aftermath of an explosion accident
Moen, Bente Elisabeth; Norbäck, D.; Wieslander, G; Bakke, Jan Vilhelm; Magerøy, Nils; Granslo, Jens-Tore; Irgens, Ågot; Bråtveit, Magne; Hollund, Eli Bjørg; Aasen, Tor
Journal article, Peer reviewed
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http://hdl.handle.net/11250/1120387Utgivelsesdato
2011Metadata
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Sammendrag
Background: After an explosion and fire in two tanks containing contaminated oil and sulphur products in a
Norwegian industrial harbour in 2007, the surrounding area was polluted. This caused an intense smell, lasting until
the waste was removed two years later. The present study reports examinations of tear film break up time among
the population. The examinations were carried out because many of the people in the area complained of sore
eyes. The purpose of the study was to assess the relationship between living or working close to the polluted area
and tear film stability one and a half years after the explosion.
Methods: All persons working or living in an area less than six kilometres from the explosion site were invited to
take part in the study together with a similar number of persons matched for age and gender living more than 20
kilometres away. Three groups were established: workers in the explosion area and inhabitants near the explosion
area (but not working there) were considered to have been exposed, and inhabitants far away (who did not work
in the explosion area) were considered to be unexposed. A total of 734 people were examined, and the response
rate was 76 percent. Tear film stability was studied by assessing non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT) using ocular
microscopy. In addition Self-reported Break Up Time (SBUT) was assessed by recording the time the subject could
keep his or hers eyes open without blinking when watching a fixed point on a wall. Background information was
obtained using a questionnaire. Non-parametric Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney-tests with exact p-values and multiple
logistic regression analyses were performed.
Results: Both NIBUT and SBUT were shorter among the male exposed workers than among the inhabitants both
near and far away from the explosion area. This was also found for SBUT among males in a multiple logistic
regression analysis, adjusting for age and smoking.