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Human visual function in the North Carolina clinical study on possible estuary-associated syndrome.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hudnell, HK; House, D; Schmid, J; Koltai, D; Stopford, W; Wilkins, J; Savitz, DA; Swinker, M; Music, S
Published in: J Toxicol Environ Health A
April 20, 2001

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency assisted the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services in conducting a study to investigate the potential for an association between fish kills in the North Carolina estuary system and the risk for persistent health effects. Impetus for the study was recent evidence suggesting that estuarine dinoflagellates, including members of the toxic Pfiesteria complex (TPC), P. piscicida and P. schumwayae, may release a toxin(s) that kills fish and adversely affects human health. This report describes one component of the study in which visual system function was assessed. Participants working primarily in estuaries inhabited by TPC or in off-shore waters thought not to contain TPC were studied. The potentially exposed estuary (n = 22) and unexposed offshore (n = 20) workers were matched for age, gender, and education. Visual acuity did not differ significantly between the cohorts, but visual contrast sensitivity (VCS), an indicator of visual pattern-detection ability for stimuli of various sizes, was significantly reduced by about 30% in the estuary relative to the offshore cohort. A further analysis that excluded participants having a history possibly predictive of neuropsychological impairment showed a similar VCS reduction. Additional analyses indicated that differences between the cohorts in age, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, and total time spent on any water did not account for the difference in VCS. Exploratory analyses suggested a possible association between the magnitude of VCS reduction and hours spent in contact with a fish kill. The profile of VCS deficit across stimulus sizes resembled that seen in organic solvent-exposed workers, but an assessment of occupational solvent, and other neurotoxicant, exposures did not indicate differences between the cohorts. These results suggest that factor(s) associated with the North Carolina estuaries, including the possibility of exposure to TPC toxin(s), may impair visual system function.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Toxicol Environ Health A

DOI

ISSN

1528-7394

Publication Date

April 20, 2001

Volume

62

Issue

8

Start / End Page

575 / 594

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Water Pollution
  • Visual Acuity
  • Vision Tests
  • Toxicology
  • Pfiesteria piscicida
  • Occupational Exposure
  • North Carolina
  • Marine Toxins
  • Male
  • Humans
 

Citation

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ICMJE
MLA
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Hudnell, H. K., House, D., Schmid, J., Koltai, D., Stopford, W., Wilkins, J., … Music, S. (2001). Human visual function in the North Carolina clinical study on possible estuary-associated syndrome. J Toxicol Environ Health A, 62(8), 575–594. https://doi.org/10.1080/15287390151079633
Hudnell, H. K., D. House, J. Schmid, D. Koltai, W. Stopford, J. Wilkins, D. A. Savitz, M. Swinker, and S. Music. “Human visual function in the North Carolina clinical study on possible estuary-associated syndrome.J Toxicol Environ Health A 62, no. 8 (April 20, 2001): 575–94. https://doi.org/10.1080/15287390151079633.
Hudnell HK, House D, Schmid J, Koltai D, Stopford W, Wilkins J, et al. Human visual function in the North Carolina clinical study on possible estuary-associated syndrome. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2001 Apr 20;62(8):575–94.
Hudnell, H. K., et al. “Human visual function in the North Carolina clinical study on possible estuary-associated syndrome.J Toxicol Environ Health A, vol. 62, no. 8, Apr. 2001, pp. 575–94. Pubmed, doi:10.1080/15287390151079633.
Hudnell HK, House D, Schmid J, Koltai D, Stopford W, Wilkins J, Savitz DA, Swinker M, Music S. Human visual function in the North Carolina clinical study on possible estuary-associated syndrome. J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2001 Apr 20;62(8):575–594.
Journal cover image

Published In

J Toxicol Environ Health A

DOI

ISSN

1528-7394

Publication Date

April 20, 2001

Volume

62

Issue

8

Start / End Page

575 / 594

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Water Pollution
  • Visual Acuity
  • Vision Tests
  • Toxicology
  • Pfiesteria piscicida
  • Occupational Exposure
  • North Carolina
  • Marine Toxins
  • Male
  • Humans