Mortality of Dutch workers exposed to carbon disulfide

Epidemiological studies carried out in Great Britain, Scandinavia and the United States indicate that workers exposed to carbon disulfide are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, and in particular for ischemic heart disease (IHD) mortality. In the epidemiological study reported here a retrospective cohort design was used. The total study population consisted of 3322 workers from a Dutch viscose textile plant who had all been employed for at least half a year between 1 January 1947 and 1 January 1980. Only production and maintenance workers were selected for the study. A group of 1434 workers who had been exposed to carbon disulfide was identified from the files available at the plant. The remaining 1888 workers who had not been exposed to carbon disulfide were used as a reference group. The total study population was followed for mortality until 1 January 1988. For the 762 workers who had died before that date, the causes of death were checked at the Central Bureau of Statistics. The results show a slightly but significantly increased risk for CVD mortality (CVD-specific SMR of 115), despite the observation of the so-called healthy worker effect and the statistical uncertainties inherent to this type of study. The results are in accordance with those reported by other investigators. The results indicate that exposure to relatively low levels of carbon disulfide increases the risk of CVD mortality.