Mortality pattern in the cohort of workers exposed to carbon disulfide

The objective of the study was to assess mortality in the cohort of the viscose factory workers occupationally and environmentally exposed to carbon disulfide. Male workers employed for at least one year during 1950-1985 in the production or maintenance departments, living in the vicinity of the plant, were enrolled into the study. Of the 2,878 workers in the cohort, 2,762 were successfully traced, yielding 76,465 person-years. Mortality assessment was based on the standardized mortality ratio using a person-years method. The general male population of Poland was considered as a reference group. Total mortality in the cohort was higher than in the general male population in Poland (SMR = 108). A significantly increased risk of deaths was observed for all cardiovascular (SMR = 114) and cerebrovascular (SMR = 208) diseases. Analyses showed a significantly elevated risk of death from the circulatory system diseases in the men of the "highly exposed" group, spinners and those who were first employed before 1974. A statistically significant trend of mortality from all cardiovascular diseases in relation to the level of exposure (assessed qualitatively) was evident. No clear relationship between duration of exposure and the risk of death was found.