Survey of chemical exposures in a viscose rayon plant

Measurements of carbon disulphide and hydrogen sulphide in a Belgian viscose rayon plant, using personal monitoring with charcoal tubes for carbon disulphide and impingers for hydrogen sulphide, showed considerable differences in the average exposure for the different jobs (3-147 mg m-3 for carbon disulphide and 0-9 mg m-3 for hydrogen sulphide). Air pollutants such as mercury and sulphuric acid, which have been reported in some other studies, were not present. The lead in blood concentration found in four plumbers ranged from 28 to 49 micrograms 100 ml-1. The implications of these findings for industrial hygiene and epidemiology are discussed.