Effects on the peripheral nervous system of workers' exposure to carbon disulfide

Journal Article · · Neurotoxicology; (United States)

OSTI ID:5669502

Johnson, B L; Boyd, J; Burg, J R; Lee, S T; Xintaras, C; Albright, B E

An evaluation of the effects of occupational exposure to carbon disulfide was performed in a sample of 156 male viscos rayon workers. Effects of CS/sub 2/ on the peripheral nervous system (PNS) were evaluated in ulnar and peroneal nerves using measurements of maximum motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) and distal latency; and sensory conduction velocity (SCV) in the sural nerve. Self-reported symptoms related to PNS disorders were also obtained from each study participant. Industrial hygiene records showed the rayon workers to have had CS/sub 2/ exposures that generally had not exceeded 20 ppm. The overall mean number of years of CS/sub 2/ exposure was 12.1 years (+/- 6.9 S.D.). The workers were divided prior to the study into three groups according to historical mean CS/sub 2/ levels calculated for job titles and area. Personal CS/sub 2/ samples were obtained during the conduct of the study to characterize each job. For these three groups the median CS/sub 2/ levels were measured to be 1.0, 4.1 and 7.6 ppm. The comparison group's median CS/sub 2/ level approximated 0.2 ppm. Results showed CS/sub 2/-exposed workers to have small but statistically significant (p less than .05) reductions in sural SCV and peroneal MCV. Other neurophysiological measures consisting of distal latency, residual latency, and muscle or nerve action potential amplitudes showed no significant differences between study groups. A reduction in the ratio of amplitudes of muscle action potentials obtained from peroneal nerve stimulation was significant (p less than .05). Reductions in the peroneal nerve MCV were found to be related, in a dose response sense, to workers' cumulative exposure to CS/sub 2/. No increase attributable to CS/sub 2/ was found in the prevalence of symptoms related to PNS disorders.

• Research Organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control, Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Science, Cincinnati, Ohio
• OSTI ID: 5669502
• Journal Information: Neurotoxicology; (United States), Journal Name: Neurotoxicology; (United States) Vol. 4:1; ISSN NRTXD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON SULFIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHRONIC EXPOSURE
INDUSTRY
MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE
NERVES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PERSONNEL
PHYSIOLOGY
PLASTICS INDUSTRY
REFLEXES
SAFETY
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SURVEILLANCE