[Exposure to low doses of CS2 and cardiovascular risk factors]

The effects were studied on cardiovascular risk factors of occupational exposure to carbon disulfide (CS2) concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 1.60 mg/m3, 74 workers exposed (E) to CS2 and 79 non-exposed (NE) workers were examined. Information was obtained on age, working age and life habits (alcohol, smoke, etc.) through a questionnaire and height and weight were measured to assess body mass index (BMI). All the workers underwent blood collection for the assessment of total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels and electrocardiogram. No clinically evident heart disease were detected in the workers examined and the prevalences of obesity and hypertension resulted to be similar among workers of the two groups. Mean triglyceride levels and frequencies of hypertriglyceridemia and of HDL cholesterol values < 40 mg/dl were significantly higher in exposed workers than non-exposed. The triglyceride levels resulted to be significantly and directly influenced by BMI and exposure to CS2. Occupational exposure to low environmental CS2 concentrations seems to interacts with other factors to determine alterations of lipid metabolism.