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Cardiovascular function of workers exposed to carbon disulphide
1Department and Out-Patient Clinic for Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schillerstrasse 25/29, 91054 Erlangen, Germany.
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
|February 20, 2003
Summary
Exposure to carbon disulfide (CS(2)) up to 10 ppm did not significantly alter heart chamber diameters in rayon industry workers. Differences in physical fitness, not CS(2) exposure, explained variations in heart size.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Carbon disulfide (CS(2)) is an industrial solvent used in rayon production.
- Previous studies suggest CS(2) may have adverse cardiovascular effects, including negative inotropic effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between occupational exposure to carbon disulfide (CS(2)) and cardiovascular function.
- To determine if CS(2) exposure up to 10 ppm leads to negative inotropic effects on the heart.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 325 rayon industry workers exposed to CS(2) and 179 controls.
- Exposure assessment via personal air sampling and biological monitoring (2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TTCA) in urine).
- Cardiovascular assessment included ergometric testing and electrocardiography.
Main Results:
- Mean CS(2) exposure was 6.04 ppm; mean TTCA was 1.14 mg/g creatinine.
- Exposed workers exhibited better physical fitness.
- No significant differences in left heart chamber diameters were found between exposed and control groups, despite a trend towards larger diameters in exposed individuals.
Conclusions:
- Occupational exposure to CS(2) up to 10 ppm was not associated with significant changes in heart chamber diameters.
- Observed differences in heart chamber diameters are likely attributable to variations in physical fitness and individual constitution rather than CS(2) exposure.