Visual Evaluation in Workers Occupationally Exposed to Cosmetics

Cosmetic products contain neurotoxic substances such as formaldehyde, heavy metals, and ammonia, which pose a potential occupational hazard to hairdressers. Among the functional changes associated with neurointoxication, visual function is described as a sensitive marker of neurointoxication. Objective: We aimed to evaluate the effects of occupational exposure to cosmetics on visual function of workers in beauty parlors. Methods: Fifty-seven subjects were evaluated and divided into two groups: a cosmetics exposed group (29 women, 1 man, 35 ± 9 years) and a control group (25 women, 2 men, 30 ± 9 years). All participants of the exposed group were exposed to cosmetics as hair straighteners, hair dyes, hair volume reducers, hair bleaches, nail polishes, nail lacquers, and makeup for at least 1 year and they have no clinical complaints. The measurement consisted of psychophysical assessment of visual acuity by Freiburg visual acuity and contrast test, Goldman's manual kinetic campimetry, color vision assessment by Ishihara test, and parameters of Lanthony desaturated D15 test. We used Mann-Whitney test to compare the data from both groups and Spearman's rank correlation to evaluate the association between visual outcomes and exposure. Results: It was observed that the visual acuity of the occupationally exposed group was lower than that of the control group (p < .0001). Color confusion index (CCI) and C-index of the exposed group were higher than that of the control group (p < .05). Conclusions: This work suggests that occupational exposure to cosmetics is related to functional changes in vision. Public Significance Statement Cosmetic products contain neurotoxic substances, which pose a potential occupational hazard. This article studied the impact of these products on human health using visual perception assessment as way to realize this investigation. The results suggest that occupational exposure to cosmetics is related to functional changes in vision. The visual perception alteration may indicate a damage in neurological processing.