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Carbon disulfide exposure estimate and prevalence of chronic diseases after carbon disulfide poisoning-related occupational diseases

Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine volume 29, Article number: 52 (2017) Cite this article

Abstract

Background

In Korea, Carbon disulfide (CS2) toxicity was an important social problem from the late 1980s to the early 1990s but there have been few large-scale studies examining the prevalence of diseases after CS2 exposure discontinuance. So we investigated past working exposure to CS2 characteristics from surviving ex-workers of a rayon manufacturing plant including cumulative CS2 exposure index. Furthermore, we studied the prevalence of their chronic diseases recently after many years.

Methods

We interviewed 633 ex-workers identified as CS2 poisoning-related occupational diseases to determine demographic and occupational characteristics and reviewed their medical records. The work environment measurement data from 1992 was used as a reference. Based on the interviews and foreign measurement documents, weights were assigned to the reference concentrations followed by calculation of individual exposure index, the sum of the portion of each time period multiplied by the concentrations of CS2 during that period.

Results

The cumulative exposure index was 128.2 ppm on average. Workers from the spinning, electrical equipment repair, and motor repair departments were exposed to high concentrations of ≥10 ppm. Workers from the maintenance of the ejector, manufacturing of CS2, post-process, refining, maintenance and manufacturing of viscose departments were exposed to low concentrations below 10 ppm. The prevalence for hypertension, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, arrhythmia, psychoneurotic disorder, disorders of the nervous system and sensory organ were 69.2%, 13.9%, 24.8%, 24.5%, 1.3%, 65.7%, 72.4% respectively.

Conclusions

We estimated the individual cumulative CS2 exposure based on interviews and foreign measurement documents, and work environment measurement data. Comparing the work environment measurement data from 1992, these values were similar to them. After identified as CS2 poisoning, there are subjects over 70 years of average age with disorders of the nervous system and sensory organs, hypertension, psychoneurotic disorder, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and arrhythmia. Because among ex-workers of the rayon manufacturing plant, only 633 survivors recognized as CS2 poisoning were studied, the others not identified as CS2 poisoning should also be investigated in the future.

Background

Carbon disulfide (CS2) is a substance in which two sulfur atoms are bonded to one carbon molecule. It is colorless and has high volatility and flammability. CS2 has been an important industrial chemical since the 1800s because of its many useful properties, including its ability to solubilize fats, rubbers, phosphorus, sulfur, and other elements. In the early 1900s, CS2 was used in large quantities during the synthesis of viscose rayon. CS2 is absorbed mainly by inhalation of steam whereupon it enters the bloodstream and is distributed throughout the body. CS2 can also be absorbed via other mucous membranes such as those of the eyes and skin. The target organs include the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, peripheral nervous system, reproductive system, eyes, and skin [1,2,3].

Among the health effects of CS2, the most commonly known is the increase in the incidence of cerebral cardiovascular diseases due to sclerotic changes in blood vessels cause by impaired lipid metabolism. One of the specific vascular effects of CS2 is the development of retinal lesions characterized by petechiae of the retina [4] or microalbuminuria. Cerebral cardiovascular disease as well as central nervous system disorders are among the major health effects of CS2 poisoning. In addition, polyneuropathy may occur after chronic exposure to low doses [5]. Parkinson’s symptoms such as cogwheel rigidity, resting tremor, action tremor, bradykinesia, cerebellar ataxia, and vertebral symptoms may occur [6]. Diffuse encephalopathy has been observed in clinical studies, psychiatric studies, and neuroradiologic studies for decades [7]. In addition, reports claim that CS2 exposure is associated with the development of endocrine disease associated with impaired lipid metabolism. Also, owing to its effects on mental health, CS2 poisoning results in excessive nervousness, uncontrolled anger, rapid mood changes, paranoia, and suicidal tendencies [8].

Thus, CS2 poisoning affects the cardiovascular system [9,10,11], the cerebrovascular system [12,13,14], the endocrine system [15, 16], mental health [8], and the nervous system [5,6,7, 15].

In Korea, CS2 toxicity was an important social problem from the late 1980s to the early 1990s, but paradoxically, it contributed to the development of the industrial safety and health system in Korea. Wonjin Rayon Co., Ltd. imported mechanical equipment from Japan, and since 1962 has manufactured viscose rayon and used CS2 as the main raw material in the process. In 1966 about 15 tons of viscose rayon was produced per day, which increased to 50 tons per day in 1976. Since then, a deficit has accumulated owing to changes in the industrial environment, and CS2 toxicity became a social problem. Wonjin Rayon Co., Ltd. was closed in 1993. Until the mid-1970s when production was high, about 3000 employees worked in the manufacturing plant annually, but the number of employees at the time of the closure was about 1000.

The cases of CS2 poisoning of Wonjin Rayon Co., Ltd. were reported around 1988. Accordingly, the Graduate School of Public Health of Seoul National University carried out an epidemiological survey in 1992, and since then, the number of patients with CS2 poisoning has increased drastically. The procedure for recognizing occupational diseases was as follows. As a first step, a person with a career in carbon disulfide working at Wonjin Rayon confirmed his working career at the Wonjin workers’ occupational medicine committee and completed a medical treatment application. As a second step, he examined a primary care from Seongsoo’s clinic and received a medical report on CS2 poisoning. As a third step, he was examined at a university hospital. As a final step, he was judged to have an occupational disease according to the standard of occupational accidents recognized by the Ministry of Labor (Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act, Article 39, Ministry of Labor). In this way, a total of 910 persons were recognized as CS2 poisoning-related occupational diseases, among whom 208 persons died and 702 persons survived by November 2016.

However, despite the number of studies reporting CS2 poisoning in Korea, the social significance of this issue was underreported. In addition to the epidemiologic survey [16], a few case reports and studies on the clinical symptoms and distribution of a single disease among a small number of workers exposed to CS2 have been reported [7, 17]. There have been few large-scale studies examining the prevalence of diseases after CS2 exposure discontinuance.

The purpose of this study was to investigate past working exposure to CS2 characteristics from investigable 633 ex-workers identified as CS2 poisoning-related occupational diseases including cumulative CS2 exposure index. Furthermore, we studied the prevalence of their major chronic diseases associated with CS2 poisoning recently after many years. We approached ex-workers of Wonjin Rayon Co., Ltd., who were identified as CS2 poisoning-related occupational diseases, via the Wonjin Industrial Accident Society.

Methods

Study population

From 1962 to 1993, there were about 12,000 employees at Wonjin Rayon Co., Ltd., but all of their information is not available. Only 910 persons were recognized as having occupational diseases. The standard of occupational accidents about CS2 poisoning or its secondary diseases is shown in Table 1. Initially, the approval name of industrial accidents was carbon disulfide poisoning, and further details are not available. Of these, 208 persons died and 702 persons survived until November 2016. Finally, 633 persons, excluding 69 who refused to participate in the survey or were unable to express their opinions, were selected for the study. This study was approved by the ethics reviews board of Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health.

Table 1 Standards of occupational accidents about CS2 poisoning or its secondary diseasesa
Full size table

Through the medical records of the 6 hospitals that manage the health of the subjects, the results of the medical examinations conducted over the past 1 year, prescriptions, and clinical history were reviewed. The name of the disease listed in data for the 295 diseases classified by the Health Insurance Statistical Yearbook of 2015 is composed of several diagnostic codes corresponding to the International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes as shown in Table 2. In addition, the Wonjin Industrial Accident Society, for 2 months since September 19, 2016, individually contacted the research subjects and conducted a one-on-one interview using a questionnaire to determine working history, demographic characteristics, health behavior, and habits. Information regarding working history included items such as year of employment, department of work, contents of work, move within/across departments, and period of work.

Table 2 ICD-10 code of target disease
Full size table

Estimation of CS2 exposure

To estimate past exposure to CS2 without actual measurement data, the work environment measurement data from 1992 used by the Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Health [18] were analyzed by 15 departments and used as the reference concentration. Based on the interviews of the study subjects, facility-related weights were assigned to the baseline concentrations according to the change in the equipment repair time and production amount. Exposure index in the absence of measurement data were weighted with reference to foreign measurement documents.

CS2 exposure by job department

The results of the Ministry of Labor’s environment survey of Wonjin Rayon Co., Ltd. conducted in 1991 and the average of the work environment measurement data estimated by the Seoul National University Graduate School of Public Health in 1992 were applied as standard concentrations. The Maintenance Department, Chemical Engineering Department, and General Affairs Department, which do not have measurement data, applied estimates by referring to the contents of the work. Table 3 shows the results of the workers’ working areas and the environmental characteristics of CS2 exposure (Table 3). Based on studies conducted in the EU a time-weighted average (TWA) of 5 ppm for departments exposed to CS2 concentrations of ≥5 ppm was classified as high exposure. Based on studies conducted in the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health a TWA of 1 ppm for departments exposed to CS2 concentrations of <1 ppm was classified as low exposure. Departments exposed to concentrations of ≥1 ppm and <5 ppm were classified as involving moderate exposure.

Table 3 Establishing criteria for CS2 exposure concentration by department
Full size table

Weights by work period

Through interviews of 30 workers conducted to identify objective facts about past CS2 exposure and the 1991 Wonjin Rayon Co., Ltd. Status report, the cost of investing in work environment management was found to gradually increase over time. By taking into account the average concentration for each period identified in foreign literature and the changes in the work environment, facilities, and production volume of Wonjin Rayon Co., Ltd., we divided work period into three stages and weighed them according to the timing (Table 4).

Table 4 Setting weight by operating period
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In 1973, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in the US showed that the 8-h TWA of airborne exposure in the workplace, such as during spinning and cutting in the rayon plant, exceeded 200 ppm in 12 of 36 cases; in 7 cases, the 8-h TWA exceeded 100 ppm. In another factory, in more than 50% of the 196 cases analyzed, the concentration of CS2 exceeded 100 ppm, and the time weighted average was 11.2 ppm (range: 0.9–127 ppm) [19]. Analysis of the measurement data of a rayon factory in Finland from 1945 to 1967 showed that the concentration of CS2 was generally estimated to be more than >40 ppm before 1950, 20–40 ppm between 1950 and 1960, and 10–30 ppm in the 1960s [20]. The average concentration of CS2 in the spinning division in the 1960s (20 ppm), which was identified in previous foreign literature, was about 3.5 times the average concentration of the total spinning division measured in 1991 (5.6 ppm). As a result, the weight of the period from early 1966 to 1974 was 3.5. The average concentration in the spinning division measured in the 70s and 80s (10–15 ppm) was about 2.25 times the average concentration in the total spinning division measured in 1991 (5.6 ppm).The weight of the period from 1975 to 1989 was estimated as 2.75 by adding 0.5 in consideration of the working environment at that time. From 1990 to 1993, the compliance towards wearing personal protective gear was relatively good and the highest CS2 concentration in the protective area was 3.2 ppm. Since the concentration was 0.5 times the reference concentration, the weight assigned was 0.5.

Based on these data, the individual cumulative exposure index and the individual average exposure concentration were calculated as shown in Table 5.

Table 5 Calculation of the cumulative exposure index and time-weighted average concentration of CS2
Full size table

Results

Characteristics of the study population

Characteristics of the workers included in this study are shown in Table 6. The subjects of this study were mainly male, accounting for 86.3% of the population; the mean age was 70.7 years (70.7 ± 7.5 years) and the mean age at the time of study entry was 27.9 years (27.9 ± 5.3 years). Of the subjects, 41.1% consumed alcohol more than once a week and 60.8% were current smokers.

Table 6 Demographic and employment characteristics of the study subjects
Full size table

CS2 exposure

According to working department, 53.7% of the subjects were working in departments with low exposure, with a TWA CS2 concentration of <5 ppm, and 46.3% of subjects were in departments with high exposure, with a TWA CS2 concentration of ≥5 ppm. The average employment duration was 12.8 years (12.8 ± 5.6 years). To estimate the cumulative CS2 exposure index, we calculated the cumulative exposure index as 128.2 ppm (128.2 ± 82.2 ppm) considering all the departments they moved to. The TWA concentration was 10.1 ppm (10.1 ± 4.9 ppm) (Table 6). Furthermore, 93.2%, 76.9%, and 61.5% of workers from the spinning, electrical equipment repair, and motor repair departments, respectively, were exposed to high concentrations of ≥10 ppm on average. During the maintenance of the ejector, manufacturing of CS2, post-process, refining, maintenance and manufacturing of viscose departments, 80.0%, 91.7%, 99.3%, 100.0%, 100.0% and 98.2% workers, respectively, were exposed to concentrations below 10 ppm on average. These values are similar to those reported in the 1991–1992 work environment measurement data (Table 7).

Table 7 CS2 exposure concentrations by department
Full size table

The prevalence of chronic diseases for the subjects

Table 8 presents the prevalence of diseases for subjects [21]. The prevalence for hypertension, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, arrhythmia, psychoneurotic disorder, disorders of the nervous system and sensory organ were 69.2%, 13.9%, 24.8%, 24.5%, 1.3%, 65.7%, 72.4% respectively.

Table 8 Disease prevalence for the study subjects
Full size table

Discussion

We investigated past working exposure to CS2 characteristics from investigable 633 ex-workers identified as CS2 poisoning-related occupational diseases including cumulative CS2 exposure index. Furthermore, we studied the prevalence of their major chronic diseases associated with CS2 poisoning recently after many years. Comparing work environment measurement data reported in the 1991–1992, these values were similar to them. After the subjects were identified as CS2 poisoning-related occupational diseases, there are subjects over 70 years of average age with chronic diseases. Disorders of the nervous system and sensory organs, hypertension, psychoneurotic disorder, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and arrhythmia are the descending order of the prevalence for their chronic diseases.

In our study, there were several advantages to the survey method. We used an evidence-based approach to estimate past exposure to CS2 and to examine the presence or absence of chronic diseases. In the study of Nishiwaki et al. [22], 432 male workers exposed to CS2 and 402 male referent workers in 11 Japanese viscose rayon factories were studied at baseline; 750 of these were followed up. Brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed at both baseline and follow-up surveys. They found that the CS2 concentrations in the workers’ breathing zones and the level of 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TTCA), a metabolite of CS2, were measured twice a year since the spring of 1993 during the study period. Individual exposure level was represented by the arithmetic mean of the concentrations of TTCA and CS2 for 6 years. Similarly, our study also used the TWA concentration in the workers’ breathing zone as a means of assessing CS2 exposure. However, the data could be used only to estimate past exposures. On the other hand, restriction of TTCA estimation to urine samples as a means of biomonitoring could be a limitation. Kotseva et al. [23] also conducted a similar CS2 exposure assessment method. Concentrations of CS2 were assessed using stationary measurements and personal sampling methods. A preliminary estimate of CS2 concentrations in the manufacturing area was achieved by short-term sampling. To estimate the CS2 exposure at the time of the study, 8-h weighted average personal breathing zone samples were collected from some workers in each job category. A cumulative exposure index was calculated for each worker by multiplying the number of years he had held a particular job with the CS2 concentrations in that job. According to the degree of personal exposure, the study population was allocated to three groups: highly exposed, moderately exposed, and non-exposed.

In contrast with our approach (review of prescription and medical records and medical examination results), Nishiwaki et al. [22] used the medical records of the company via interview when examining the medical history of the subjects. Thus, our study has an advantage in that the prevalence estimated is more accurate [15, 23,24,25,26], because it relies on past history by self-filling or one-on-one interview questionnaires.

To estimate CS2 exposure index prior to 1986, exposure index was estimated by applying baseline and weights according to work period in 1991 and 1992, where the data were available. Because the departmental exposure index recorded in existing work environment measurement results (Table 3) and that of the present study (Table 7) showed a similar distribution, the exposure assessment can be deemed appropriate. There was an exception to this distribution. For example, the department with high CS2 exposure contained workers with moderate or low exposure because of the short working period in the high-exposure department since the 1990s. The presence of workers with high CS2 exposure in the department with low exposure indicates that these workers in the production department moved to the low-exposure department.

The average age of the subjects was 70.7, and most diseases that they have are chronic. The prevalence for hypertension, coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, arrhythmia, psychoneurotic disorder, disorders of the nervous system and sensory organ were 69.2%, 13.9%, 24.8%, 24.5%, 1.3%, 65.7%, 72.4% respectively. Vanhoorne et al. showed significant effects of the CS2 cumulative exposure index on systolic BP, diastolic BP [11]. Hyung-Joon Jhun et al. suggested that CS2 poisoned subjects have an increased risk of ECG abnormalities even after the exposure to CS2 is no longer present [27]. Several cross-sectional epidemiological studies have demonstrated that exposure to CS2 can result in increased cardiovascular risk factors and thus mortality [9,10,11, 28]. Recently, long-term exposure to CS2 was found to be an independent risk factor for changes in intima-media thickness in a German rayon manufacturing plant [9]. Long-term CS2 exposure has also been associated with increased cardiovascular mortality [11]. The abnormalities of cerebrovascular system were evaluated in CS2 poisoning cases [12,13,14]. Eunil Lee et al. [12] suggested that CS2 exposure could lead to a decrease of cerebral vasoreactivities by the atherosclerotic change of cerebral vessels. In a study of the health effects of CS2 on metabolic syndrome, the CS2-poisoned group showed an increased risk for abdominal obesity and high fasting glucose levels after adjusting for covariates [16]. Krstev et al. [29] reported neuropsychiatric effects in workers with occupational exposure to CS2. In a study of the effects of CS2 on the peripheral nervous system using nervous conduction, the number of cases with abnormal nerve conduction results increased according to age and duration of exposure [5]. Also in this study, after ex-workers of the rayon manufacturing plant were identified as CS2 poisoning-related occupational diseases, there are subjects with chronic diseases as mentioned earlier. Disorders of the nervous system and sensory organs, hypertension, psychoneurotic disorder, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and arrhythmia are the descending order of the prevalence for their chronic diseases.

This study has the following limitations. First, concurrent exposure to other chemicals as well as failure to control for other disease risk factors, such as aging, is a limitation of this study. Second, diseases involving high mortality rates and severity, such as cerebrovascular diseases, involve a relatively large number of deaths and intensive care unit admission, making follow-up observations difficult. Third, a prevalence-incidence bias could occur [30]. Fourth, because demographic and work-related factors were investigated using a one-on-one interview survey approach, the intention of researchers and responders could be reflected. Fifth, the research subjects were very selective and could not be compared with the general population. Finally, there is a problem with the reliability of the reference data, and it is impossible to calculate the accurate exposure amount according to the change in the work environment during the period. The date regarding the working environment at Wonjin Rayon Co., Ltd. and medical examination results prior to 1986 were not available. There is no measurement data except for the very limited measurement results from 1986 to 1990, and these results also have many limitations in terms of the reliability of the results owing to the lack of samples, lack of cooperation of the company, and method of analysis. In order to overcome these limitations, exposure index was estimated by applying periodic weights with reference to foreign documents.

Because among ex-workers of the rayon manufacturing plant, only 633 survivors recognized as CS2 poisoning-related occupational were studied, the others not identified as CS2 poisoning occupational diseases should also be investigated. A patient-control study will be needed in the future.

Conclusions

We investigated past working exposure to CS2 characteristics from investigable 633 ex-workers of the rayon manufacturing plant who were identified as CS2 poisoning-related occupational diseases including cumulative CS2 exposure index based on the interviews, foreign measurement documents, and work environment measurement data reported in the 1991–1992. Comparing work environment measurement data reported in the 1991–1992, these values were similar to them. It is known that CS2 poisoning affects the cardiovascular system, the cerebrovascular system, the endocrine system, mental health, and the nervous system. Thus, we studied the prevalence of their major chronic diseases associated with CS2 poisoning recently after many years. Also in this study, after the subjects were identified as CS2 poisoning-related occupational diseases, there are subjects over 70 years of average age with disorders of the nervous system and sensory organs, hypertension, psychoneurotic disorder, cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, coronary artery disease, and arrhythmia. Because among ex-workers of the rayon manufacturing plant, only 633 survivors recognized as CS2 poisoning-related occupational were studied, the others not identified as CS2 poisoning occupational diseases should also be investigated. A patient-control study will be needed in the future.

Abbreviations

CI:

Confidence interval

CS2 :

Carbon disulfide

ICD:

International classification of disease

OR:

Odds ratio

SPR:

Standardized prevalence ratio

TTCA:

2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid

TWA:

Time weighted average

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Wonjin Industrial Accident Society (WIAS).

Funding

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Availability of data and materials

The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to reasons why data are not public.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Wonjin Green Hospital (Seoul), Sagajeong-ro 49-gil 53, Jungrang-gu, Seoul, South Korea

    Hweemin Chung, Kanwoo Youn & Kyuyeon Kim

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Wonjin Green Hospital (Guri), Dongguneung-ro 65-gil, Guri Si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

    Kyunggeun Park

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Contributions

HMC drafted this manuscript. KWY designed this study and corrected final manuscript as corresponding author. HMC and KWY developed questionnaire and revised it. HMC, KGP and KYK conducted the survey and contributed to the data collection. HMC analyzed the data. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kanwoo Youn.

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All study subjects were informed of the purpose of this study. The subjects were consented to participate under the ‘Ethics, consent & permissions’ heading and to publish to report individual patient data. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Wonjin Institute for Occupational and Environmental Health. The reference number is IRB-2016-003.

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The subjects were consented to publish to report individual patient data.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Chung, H., Youn, K., Kim, K. et al. Carbon disulfide exposure estimate and prevalence of chronic diseases after carbon disulfide poisoning-related occupational diseases. Ann of Occup and Environ Med 29, 52 (2017). https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.1186/s40557-017-0208-6

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Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

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