"BLUE HALOES" IN ATEBRIN WORKERS

Abstract

Prolonged exposure to dust of atebrine induced in 6 workers, who were not hypersensitive to this material, a yellow discoloration of the exposed conjunctiva with aggregations of minute brown dots at the corresponding portions of each limbus. Apparently, atebrine after dissolving in the tears becomes absorbed by way of the corneal epithelial cells. The superficial layer of the entire cornea was peppered with fine brownish intracellular particles (7-11 [mu] in diam.). They were visible as haloes with blue on the inside and red on the outside.