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PubMed1992

Immunological and respiratory changes in animal food processing workers.

A group of 35 men employed in the processing of animal food was studied to assess the relation between respiratory findings and immunological status. The most frequent positive skin prick reactions to occupational allergens were to fish flour (82.9%), followed by carotene (77.1%), corn (65.7%), four-leaf clover (62.9%), sunflower (54.3%), chicken meat (31.4%), soy (28.6%), and yeast (22.7%). Increased total IgE serum levels were found in 14/35 (40.0%) animal food workers compared to 1/39 (2.6%) in a healthy population (p less than 0.01). A significantly higher prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms was found among the exposed workers compared to control workers. There was however, no significant difference in the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms between animal food workers with positive and negative skin tests to house dust or to fish flour or among those with increased or normal IgE (except for dyspnea). The frequency of acute symptoms associated with the work shift was high among the animal food workers but similar by immunological status. There were significant mean across-shift reductions for all ventilatory capacity tests, being particularly pronounced for FEF25. Workers with positive skin tests to fish flour antigen had significantly larger across-shift reductions in FEF25 than workers with negative skin reactions. An aqueous extract of animal food dust caused a dose-related contractile response of isolated guinea pig tracheal muscle in vitro. Our data suggest that, in addition to any immunological response animal food dust may produce in vivo, it probably also causes direct irritant or pharmacological reactions on the airways as suggested by our in vitro data.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Irregular opacities in the lung, occupational asthma, and airways dysfunction in aluminum workers.

We examined chest X-rays, measured expiratory flows and FVC by spirometry and TLC by projected lung area, ascertained respiratory data by questionnaires, and performed chest examinations in 670 Southeastern aluminum workers and 659 unexposed regional controls. Both groups were asbestos exposed. More aluminum workers had irregular opacities and fewer had pleural abnormalities than did regional pipefitter referents. The pulmonary function tests were expressed as percentage of predicted to adjust for height, age and duration of smoking based on a randomly selected U.S. reference population. Data from aluminum workers were compared to regional controls with students "t" tests run for unequal size groups. Aluminum workers had significant reductions in FEV1 of 3.2% predicted (p less than .003), FEF25-75 of 11.3% predicted (p less than .0001), FEF75-85 of 22.5% predicted (p less than .0001), and an increased TLC of 2.0% predicted (p less than .005). The 145 who had never smoked (NS) were compared with 124 NS controls and showed this same pattern of differences; but in smokers, the differences were significant for mid and terminal flows, but not for FEV1. In aluminum workers who never smoked, asthma prevalence by history was 7.6% vs. 4.0% in controls, and wheezes were heard in 21.4% vs. 2.4% in controls. In aluminum workers who were current smokers, asthma prevalence was 16.4% vs. 9.4% in controls, and wheezes were heard in 43.7% vs. 21.1% in controls. Aluminum workers had significantly more asthma, wheezing, airways obstruction, and pulmonary parenchymal abnormalities similar to asbestosis than did regional blue collar controls not melting and casting aluminum.

Aluminum↗
PubMed1993

Respiratory function in sewage workers.

Respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity were studied in a group of 74 sewage workers employed in cleaning the city sewage system of Zagreb, Croatia. Workers were studied by their work stations: closed channels (N = 26), drainage (N = 31), and other sewage workers (N = 17). The prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms was higher in closed channel and drainage workers than in controls, particularly for chronic cough (range: 41.9-46.2% vs. 14.3%), chronic phlegm (range: 38.7-46.2% vs. 14.3%), chronic bronchitis (range: 32.3-42.3% vs. 8.6%), and chest tightness (range: 29.0-53.8% vs. 0%). In the first two groups of sewage workers there was a high prevalence of acute symptoms which developed during the work shift, being particularly pronounced for eye irritation (range: 16.1-26.9%), dyspnea (16.1-23.1%), dizziness (range: 6.5-23.1%), throat burning (9.7-19.2%), and skin irritation (range: 22.6-26.9%). Baseline ventilatory capacity was significantly decreased compared to predicted values in sewage workers; in particular, values for FEF50 and FEF25 were reduced, suggesting obstructive changes in smaller airways. Our data indicate that sewage workers experience frequent acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and exhibit objective evidence of respiratory dysfunction.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function in flour processing workers in the baking industry.

Respiratory symptoms and ventilatory capacity were studied in 63 flour processing male bakery workers in Umtata, Transkei, Southern Africa. The controls were from a bottling plant in the same city. Both groups were black Africans from the Xhosa-speaking population. The studied population was nonsmoking and no significant difference was noted in age, race, sex, or height between the groups. The exposed workers had significantly lower forced expiratory indices than the control group. Mean percent predicted values of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced expiratory ratio (FEV1/FVC x 100), forced mid-expiratory flow between 25% and 75% of FVC (FMF), forced expiratory flow between the first 200 ml and 1,200 ml of FVC (FEF 200-1,200), and peak expiratory flow rate (PEF) were, respectively, 11.2%, 20.0%, 31.0%, 27.4%, and 36.1% lower in the exposed group compared with the controls. The prevalence of forced expiratory ratio less than 70% in the exposed group was 37% while in the controls it was 8%. The prevalence of PEF rate less than 5 1/s in the exposed group was 32% while in the controls it was 11%. The exposed workers reported a significantly higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms compared to the controls. The prevalence of nasal symptoms, phlegm, and cough in the exposed workers was 53.9%, 30.1%, and 25.4%, respectively. The present study demonstrated that exposure to flour dust in flour processing workers in the baking industry is associated with significantly lower pulmonary functions and a higher prevalence of respiratory symptoms, and that these workers show signs of airway obstruction, compared to workers not exposed to flour.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Work-related musculoskeletal symptoms among sheet metal workers.

We report results of two pilot studies of the relationship between musculoskeletal disorders and work tasks in sheet metal workers. These two studies were undertaken as pilot investigations to determine if symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome or other work-related musculoskeletal symptoms are present in sheet metal workers, and to determine if we could begin to identify the factors in sheet metal work that cause them. In the first study, telephone interviews were conducted with 18 disabled sheet metal workers; the second survey entailed self-administered questionnaires completed by 47 active and retired sheet metal workers. Among the disabled workers, rotator cuff cases reported the greatest percent of time spent hanging duct, an overhead task commonly carried out during field work. Carpal tunnel cases reported more hand tool use than the rotator cuff cases. The questionnaire survey of active and retired workers found the proportion of time spent in a sheet metal shop (contrasted with field work) to be positively associated with hand symptoms; sheet metal workers who spent at least 65% of their time in the shop had an odds ratio of 3.4 for symptomatic hand cumulative trauma disorder (CTD) (p = 0.12). The proportion of time spent hanging duct was positively associated with both neck and shoulder symptoms, with odds ratios of 7.9 (p = 0.08) and 2.7 (p = 0.16), respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Endemic work-related febrile respiratory illness among construction workers.

Construction workers building Denver International Airport (DIA) reported work-related respiratory and flulike symptoms of several months duration. We performed a cross-sectional interview study of 495 randomly selected DIA workers from six contractors in comparison with preplacement workers. We defined cases as workers with two work-attributed lower respiratory symptoms and one work-attributed systemic symptom. Case rates were significantly higher among DIA workers (34%) compared with those who had never worked at DIA (2%). Risk factors for illness included exposure to fireproofing (OR, 4.21; 95% CI, 1.95-9.08), work in tunnels and adjoining areas (OR, 3.07; 95% CI, 1.84-5.12), length of DIA employment (OR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.46-0.92), and preexisting bronchitis (OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.17-5.05). Our industrial hygiene investigation revealed alkaline dust (pH 11) present at a worksite associated with elevated risk of illness, and we identified airborne Penicillium mold widely distributed indoors at DIA. Clinical evaluation of 26 self-identified symptomatic DIA employees, including bronchoalveolar lavage and biopsy in 10, revealed work-related asthma in three workers and histologic evidence of chronic bronchitis in four who had never smoked. We concluded that future investigations of endemic work-related febrile respiratory illness among construction workers should evaluate its association with indoor exposure to dusts from alkaline fireproofing, Penicillium mold, mycotoxins, and bacterial bioaerosols.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Single-strand breaks, chromosome aberrations, sister-chromatid exchanges, and micronuclei in blood lymphocytes of workers exposed to styrene during the production of reinforced plastics.

Chromosome aberrations (CA), micronuclei (MN, cytokinesis-block [CB] method), and sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) were analysed in blood lymphocytes of 17 workers and 17 control subjects. The mean urinary mandelic acid level (average 9.4 mmol/l) and styrene glycol in blood (average 2.5 mumol/l) implied exposure to about 300 mg/m3 of styrene in the plant. The number of CA was significantly higher in non-smoking workers compared with nonsmoking controls. A significant correlation was observed between duration of exposure and individual CA level of all workers. No significant effects were observed in MN or SCE. Single-strand breaks (SSB) in DNA of isolated lymphocytes were studied in nine of the workers and eight of the controls by the DNA-unwinding technique. The results showed an increase in SSB among the exposed workers. The present findings support earlier reports on the increase of structural CA in blood lymphocytes of workers in the reinforced plastic industry, and also show that SSBs are elevated in such workers.

Chromosome Aberrations↗
PubMed2001

Oral health status of workers exposed to acid fumes in phosphate and battery industries in Jordan.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence and nature of oral health problems among workers exposed to acid fumes in two industries in Jordan. SETTING: Jordan's Phosphate Mining Company and a main private battery factory. DESIGN: Comparison of general and oral health conditions between workers exposed to acid fumes and control group from the same workplace. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 68 subjects from the phosphate industry (37 acid workers and 31 controls) drawn as a sample of convenience and 39 subjects from a battery factory (24 acid workers and 15 controls). Structured questionnaires on medical and dental histories were completed by interview. Clinical examinations were carried out to assess dental erosion, oral hygiene, and gingival health using the appropriate indices. Data were statistically analysed using Wilcoxon rank-sum test to assess the significance of differences between results attained by acid workers and control groups for the investigated parameters. RESULTS: Differences in the erosion scores between acid workers in both industries and their controls were highly significant (P<0.05). In both industries, acid workers showed significantly higher oral hygiene scores, obtained by adding the debris and calculus scores, and gingival index scores than their controls (P<0.05). The single most common complaint was tooth hypersensitivity (80%) followed by dry mouth (77%) on average. CONCLUSION: Exposure to acid fumes in the work place was significantly associated with dental erosion and deteriorated oral health status. Such exposure was also detrimental to general health. Findings pointed to the need of establishing appropriate educational, preventive and treatment measures coupled with efficient surveillance and environmental monitoring for detection of acid fumes in the workplace atmosphere.

Acids↗
PubMed2001

An oral bioassay for the toxicity of hydramethylnon to individual workers and queens of Argentine ants, Linepithema humile.

We have developed an oral bioassay to determine the toxicity of hydramethylnon to individual workers and queens of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile. We fed seven concentrations of hydramethylnon in suspension to individual workers or queens, determined the amount of hydramethylnon ingested and evaluated the individual ants for mortality 14 days later. At concentrations > or = 0.37 g liter-1, the amount of liquid the queens ingested decreased dramatically, indicating that Argentine ant queens may detect hydramethylnon. Significantly larger volumes of the two highest concentrations of the hydramethylnon suspension were ingested by the workers, compared to the lower concentrations, suggesting that hydramethylnon may act as a feeding stimulant for the workers. Worker mortality was higher than queen mortality at the highest concentrations tested. The highest worker mortality resulted when the ants ingested 1.03 micrograms of hydramethylnon per mg of ant tissue. At the highest concentration (1.0 g liter-1) tested, workers ingested almost 12 times as much active ingredient per mg of body weight as did queens, suggesting that, in order to increase mortality of queens, multiple feedings must occur.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1997

Neurobehavioral effects of occupational exposure to low-level organic solvents among Taiwanese workers in paint factories.

At six paint factories in northern Taiwan, 325 workers participated in a detailed evaluation that included medical and occupational questionnaires, blood sampling, neurobehavioral tests, vibratory perception threshold tests, and thermal perception threshold tests. Because of cultural differences, a Chinese test battery was modified from the Neurobehavioral Evaluation System 2. Eleven tests were performed: finger tapping, continuous performance, associated learning, symbol-digit, pattern comparison, pattern memory, visual digit span, switch attention, associated delayed recognition, mood scales, and vocabulary. Air concentrations of organic solvents were measured by passive personal samplers and analyzed by gas chromatography. Results showed that major solvents to which the workers were exposed were toluene, xylene, n-hexane, methyl iso-butyl ketone, and n-butyl acetate. The exposure index (EI) was classified by different exposure patterns and different air concentrations in the breathing zone as follows: EI 0, nonexposure; EI 1, low exposure; and EI 2, high exposure (the medians of 8-hr hygienic effects were 0, 0.03, and 0.25, respectively). Because of their diverse socioeconomic status and demographic characteristics, the workers were divided into two groups for additional analysis: one group comprised white-collar workers, including technicians and administrative staff, and the other comprised blue-collar workers. By using multiple linear regression analysis controls for age, sex, education, and alcohol intake, significant associations were found between increased exposure to solvent mixtures and performance on some neuropsychologic tests. In the blue-collar group, significantly prolonged response latencies were observed in the tests of continuous performance, pattern comparison, and pattern memory. Among white-collar workers, significant impairment was observed in the continuous performance test. All three tests involved visual attention and perceptual (speed and memory) functions. It was concluded that these may be the earliest neurotoxic signs of occupational exposure to low-level organic solvents in paint manufacturing workers.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

A cross-sectional study on the brainstem auditory evoked potential among workers exposed to carbon disulfide.

In order to clarify the chronic effect of carbon disulfide (CS2) on the central nervous system (CNS), the brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) was measured in spinning workers exposed to CS2 in a viscose rayon manufacturing factory and unexposed workers in Japan. Workers exposed to CS2 were divided into three groups according to length of exposure: current spinning workers with an exposure duration of more than 240 months (L group, n = 34), current spinning workers with an exposure duration of 24-84 months (S group, n = 25), and former spinning workers with an exposure duration of more than 120 months (R group, n = 16). Unexposed controls were selected from workers in a nylon filament factory using the same criteria (N group; n = 40). BAEP records were analyzed based on the latencies of three main components (I, III, V) and interpeak latencies (I-III IPL, III-V IPL, I-V IPL). Latencies of component V, III-V IPL, and I-V IPL in the L group were significantly greater (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, P < 0.05, respectively). The significantly, higher III-V IPL in the L group suggested that in humans, chronic exposure to CS2 involves the auditory ascending tract in the brainstem. Recovery from this neurotoxic effect is apparently possible, as the BAEP parameters in the R group were not significantly higher than those of the N group despite the long previous CS2 exposure of the R group.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

A clinical and immunological study on 92 workers occupationally exposed to anhydrides.

This study aimed at investigating sensitizing and hazardous effects of a new acid anhydride, pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA), in addition to those of phthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride and trimellitic anhydride, in a group of 92 exposed workers in two German chemical plants. Of the 92 workers, 56 reported work-related complaints with a predominance of phlegm and dyspnoea in those exposed to anhydride dust for less than 1 year. Haemorrhagic rhinitis occurred only after a prolonged exposure of more than 15 years. Specific IgE antibodies to anhydride-HSA conjugates could be detected in 15 exposed subjects, 12 of whom had work-related symptoms. The IgE-positive group had significantly more impaired lung function parameters than the IgE-negative group. The proportion of IgE-positive subjects was highest in the groups with dyspnoea (5/18), cough (6/24) and rhinitis (11/44) whereas only 1 of 11 workers with haemorrhagic rhinitis had such antibodies. A follow-up study of 23 affected workers was performed after 10 months to assess clinical symptoms, lung function and IgE antibody levels. This follow-up study showed the absence of obstructive ventilation patterns in three out of six subjects in addition to cessation of symptoms in most initially affected workers who were no longer exposed. On the other hand, 14 workers under continuous exposure had comparable pathological findings on re-examination. Our results confirm that anhydrides including the lesser known PMDA, behave as respiratory irritants and as immediate-type sensitizers. They predominantly induced reversible symptoms in workers whose exposure stopped after a working period of about 0.7 years. Abnormal lung function parameters normalized in nearly 50% of these subjects.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Determination of nickel in lung specimens of thirty-nine autopsied nickel workers.

Lung specimens from 39 nickel refinery workers autopsied during the period from 1978 to 1984 were analyzed for nickel. Fifteen of the workers were employed in the Roasting and Smelting Department, where exposure to nickel was predominantly in the form of nickel-copper oxides, Ni3S2 and metallic dust. The remaining 24 men worked in the Electrolysis Department. Exposure in this group was considered to be mostly to the water-soluble compounds, NiSO4 and NiCl2, but also to a lesser degree to water-insoluble nickel compounds such as nickel-copper oxides and sulphides. The arithmetic mean +/- SD for nickel concentration in lung tissues expressed in micrograms g-1 dry wt for the 39 workers was 150 +/- 280. In the workers employed in the Roasting and Smelting Department, the average nickel concentration was 330 +/- 380; for those who worked in the Electrolysis Department it was 34 +/- 48. Lung tissue from 16 autopsied persons not connected with the refinery had an average nickel concentration of 0.76 +/- 0.39. Statistical analysis based on log-normal distributions of the measured nickel concentrations allowed three major conclusions to be formulated: (1) nickel refinery workers exhibit elevated nickel levels in lung tissues at autopsy; (2) workers of the Electrolysis Department and the Roasting Smelting Department constitute distinct groups with respect to the accumulation of nickel in lung tissue; (3) workers who were diagnosed to have lung cancer had the same lung nickel concentrations at autopsy as those who died of other causes.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Airflow obstruction in chalkpowder and sugar workers.

Our aim was to investigate the relationship between suspected occupational hazards and airflow obstruction in industrial workers. The study was a cross-sectional survey of 314 male workers from a chalkpowder plant (n = 158) and from a sugar refinery (n = 156). Occupational exposure to chalkpowder and sugar dust was assessed by individual job classification. Outcome variables included respiratory symptoms and routine spirometric parameters. Statistical analysis was done for each industry separately. Overall, mean pulmonary function parameters fell either within or above the normal range in both industries. However, analysis by job classification showed that in the chalkpowder plant, all indices of airway obstruction declined significantly with increasing dustiness. Additionally, workers in the dustiest workplace (chalk sacking) had significantly lower airflow parameters than workers from other workstations. In the sugar refinery, workers exposed to sugar dust in the sugar cube manufacture workstation had significantly lower forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (p = 0.02) than the non-exposed ones. For both industries, the proportion of subjects complaining of cough and/or phlegm was greater among the most exposed subgroups than among the remaining workers but the differences were not statistically significant. In conclusion, coupling spirometry to job classification proved useful in disclosing a relationship between airflow obstruction and exposure to either chalkpowder or sugar dust in industrial workers.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Primary DNA damage in peripheral mononuclear blood cells of workers exposed to bitumen-based products.

The genotoxic effect of occupational exposure to bitumen-based products was determined by the extent of DNA strand breaks and alkali-labile sites of the DNA of peripheral mononuclear blood cells from seven roofers, 18 road paving workers, and nine bitumen painters. In order to evaluate short-term genotoxic effect the workers were investigated on Fridays and on Mondays after a weekend free of occupational exposure. The roofers (all cigarette smokers) showed a significantly (P < 0.002) 43% higher mean level of alkaline DNA strand breaks on Friday than did the ten smoking controls included in this study. Also, comparison of the individual levels of alkaline strand breaks on Mondays and on Fridays revealed a significant increase (P < 0.05, Wilcoxon test) during the work week. In the road paving workers and the bitumen painters no statistically significant difference in the mean levels of alkaline strand breaks could be found compared to controls either for the measurement on Mondays or for that on Fridays. However, interesting tendencies were observed. As in the group of roofers, the mean level of alkaline DNA strand breaks as well as the majority of the individual levels of alkaline strand breaks of road paving workers was higher on Fridays than on Mondays. In contrast, bitumen painters exhibited a relatively high level of alkaline DNA strand breaks on Mondays and a decreased mean level of strand breaks on Fridays. DNA adducts could be detected at a low level (up to 2.9 adducts per 10(9) bases) in 10 of 14 road paving workers and bitumen painters using the 32P-postlabelling assay. The number of DNA adducts correlated with the years spend in the present job. Road paving workers and bitumen painters showed only suggestive evidence for a possible genotoxic effect due to their occupational exposure. Because we cannot exclude the formation of DNA cross-links in these workers, a more detailed investigation of the hazard is urgently needed. For roofers, substantial genotoxic damage in peripheral mononuclear blood cells was observed in this study.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function among wood dust-exposed joss stick workers.

Health hazards associated with wood dust exposure have been investigated in various industries. This study surveyed wood dust exposure levels and pulmonary effects among joss stick workers. Greater dust concentrations, as measured by six-stage cascade impactors, were observed in work areas where joss sticks were produced and incense was mixed than in other work areas. Total dust concentrations for these two high dust activities ranged from 9.9 to 42.7 mg/m3, and respirable proportions were between 2.0% and 54.6%. Higher dust levels were observed for dry joss stick production methods than for wet production methods. Dust levels for all other performance areas were lower than the permissible exposure level of 10 mg/m3. Although symptoms of cough and phlegm were higher in smoking workers than in nonsmoking workers, the prevalence of respiratory symptoms for exposed workers was not significantly higher than for the controls. The prevalence of pulmonary function deficits and the values of FEF25% and FEF75% in the exposed workers were significantly worse than those in the controls. But no difference was found between the male controls and the male exposed workers, the high-exposure group. Respiratory symptoms and pulmonary function also did not show a dose-response trend with the exposure levels estimated by correlation with worker job titles and duration of employment. No suspected case of pneumoconiosis was found from the chest radiographs. These results suggest that wood dust exposure in the joss stick industries might not lead to significant pulmonary damage.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Correlation between work process-related exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and urinary levels of alpha-naphthol, beta-naphthylamine and 1-hydroxypyrene in iron foundry workers.

In two Danish iron foundries the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in 24 personal air samples of workers employed in selected processes, i.e. melters, melted iron transporters, casters, machine molders, hand molders, shake-out workers and finishing workers, were measured and correlated to levels of 1-hydroxypyrene, alpha-naphthol and beta-naphthylamine in the urine of exposed workers. The highest total airborne PAH concentrations (sum of 15 selected PAH compounds: 9.6-11.2 micrograms/m3) were associated with casting, machine molding, and shake-out. The highest concentrations of the sum of six selected airborne carcinogenic PAH compounds were found for melting, casting and machine and hand molding. As seen in other working environments involving low-level PAH exposure, the content of naphthalene was high, in general exceeding 85% of the total content of PAH compounds. The present study demonstrates that 1-hydroxypyrene is a useful and direct biomarker of low-dose occupational exposure to PAH compounds. Molding and casting had the highest pyrene levels in iron foundries. Furthermore, the data shows that levels of beta-naphthylamine in urine are significantly elevated in iron foundry workers. Hand molders, finishing workers and truck drivers tended to have the highest levels. Concerning alpha-naphthol the highest concentrations were measured in urine from casters and shake-out workers. With regard to epidemiologic studies demonstrating that molders and casters have a higher risk of lung cancer, the present study suggests that the elevated risk may be due to exposure to carcinogenic PAH compounds in iron foundries, particularly in some high-risk work processes, e.g. casting and molding. In addition, the present study suggests that biological monitoring of 1-hydroxypyrene and beta-naphthylamine may be used to estimate the individual exposure, which seems to be correlated with exposure during individual work processes.

2-Naphthylamine↗
PubMed1994

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.

Carbon Disulfide↗