Epidemiological study of endocrinological effects of carbon disulfide

One hundred seventeen viscose rayon workers exposed to carbon disulfide, and 66 workers who were not exposed to any toxic agent in the working environment, underwent an endocrinological examination that included determination of thyroxine, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, prolactin, and testosterone in serum by radioimmunoassay methods. In the viscose rayon factory, the working conditions had not changed subsequent to 1932. Personal monitoring performed in 17 jobs showed that carbon disulfide exposures varied from 4 to 112 mg/m3. A carbon disulfide cumulative exposure index was calculated for each individual. Univariate analysis of the hormone levels versus exposure showed significantly lower levels of prolactin in the exposed versus nonexposed subjects (p = .01). After adjustment for age, alcohol, smoking, body mass index, and stress level, the carbon disulfide cumulative exposure index was not associated with any of the hormones. This discrepancy from previous studies may result from differences in exposure, in selection of the population, or in confounding biases.