Ann Occup Environ Med.  2016 ;28(1):3. 10.1186/s40557-015-0087-7.

Case series of keratitis in poultry abattoir workers induced by exposure to the ultraviolet disinfection lamp

• Kwon DH
• Moon JD
• Park WJ
• Kang WY
• Kim SH
• Lim HM
• Ahn JS
• Chae HJ

• KMID: 2370883
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-015-0087-7

Abstract

BACKGROUND
An outbreak of eye diseases occurred among workers at a poultry abattoir in South Korea from December 2012 to June 2013. An epidemiological investigation of the causative agent was conducted. The workers were given a special health examination and workplace environmental monitoring was performed. Workers with ocular symptoms subsequently underwent an ophthalmic examination. CASE PRESENTAION: From a total of 41 workers, 26 (63.4 %) were diagnosed with keratoepitheliopathy by ophthalmic examination. Environmental monitoring of the workplace revealed that the ultraviolet (UV) apron-disinfection lamp had not been turning off at the set times, and so the workers' faces had been exposed to UV radiation. Effective radiation dose measurement showed a UV-B exposure of 7-30 Î¼W/cm2, and a UV-C exposure of 40-200 Î¼W/cm2; both values exceed the occupational exposure limits. The outbreak ceased after the lamp was repaired.
CONCLUSIONS
This case shows that inappropriate use of the UV disinfection lamp can cause mass photokeratitis. In order to prevent this, the UV disinfection lamp must be checked regularly, workers must be educated on the health effects of UV radiation, and appropriate eye protection must be worn.

Keyword

Keywords; Photokeratitis; Poultry abattoir; Ultraviolet; South Korea

MeSH Terms

Abattoirs*
Disinfection*
Environmental Monitoring
Eye Diseases
Keratitis*
Korea
Occupational Exposure
Poultry*