Ophthalmic checks for lead exposure in police officers working in rifle ranges

Background In sports marksmen, police officers, rifle range instructors and cleaning staff a high lead strain may be found. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of long term lead exposure in police rifle range instructors for contrast sensitivity and colour vision, to gain new aspects for early detection and early prevention for effected police officers. Patients and Methods Eleven rifle range instructors have been subjected to the following methods: Ishihara and Velhagen table, Tritan-Album, Lanthony Desaturated Panel D-15d-Test and All Colour Anomaloscope to determine laps in colour vision and table VCTS 6000 to determine contrast sensitivity. Results After long term lead strain a loss of contrast sensitivity in rifle instructors can be expected, several colour sensitivity values were located at the bottom range of the threshold value sensitivity range curve or below the normal range. 73% of the examined police officers showed colour sense anomalies. Conclusion The impediment of contrast sensitivity and colour vision is a symptom for chronic neuro-toxicity at work.