Oculopathy within workers of  Beninese cement industry of Xwlacodji (BCI) in Cotonou (Benin)

Abstract

Eye, an important organ is neglected in environmental and occupational medicine. The present study carried out in the factory  of cement of the BCI at Xwlacodji allowed us to identify eye disorders among workers. 106 staff of BCI were enrolled for the study (53 staff working in the very dusty and 53 staff  working in the less dusty area of the company).  Ophthalmological examination was conducted with examination torch, ophthalmoscope, Schirmer strips and fluorescence along with eye drops. The results revealed that pruritus represents 60 % of the symptoms and 65.7 % of those who complain about it reported a remission during holidays. Also, 79.2 % of the people working in the very dusty sections presented eye disorders compared to 50.9 % of those who work in the less dusty sections. These clinically identified disorders were essentially pinguecula and pterygium. Besides, 69.8% of the people more exposed to the dusts of cement suffered of eye disorders compared to 62.26 % of the people less exposed.  Sixty four percent of the workers who often received cement dusts in eyes presented eye complaint. These different results showed that the activities of cement industry cause eye disorders to workers and it urges to take measures in order to mitigate the harm.

Keywords: eye disorders, exposure, cement industry, Xwlacodji, Benin