Professional paper

Evaluation of health status among workers exposed to carbon disulphide

S. Krstev ; Institut za medicinu rada i radiološku zaštitu »Dr Dragomir Karajović«, Univerzitetski klinički centar, Beograd, Srbija
V. Mitić ; Institut za medicinu rada i radiološku zaštitu »Dr Dragomir Karajović«, Univerzitetski klinički centar, Beograd, Srbija
B. Farkić ; Institut za medicinu rada i radiološku zaštitu »Dr Dragomir Karajović«, Univerzitetski klinički centar, Beograd, Srbija

Abstract

The investigation included 134 workers from a viscose rayon factory who were exposed to average concentrations of carbon disulphide exceeding MAC values (x̄= 119.3 mg/m3) for more than 75% of their working hours. Workers' chronic morbidity from carbon disulphide exposure was analysed over a three-year period, and results were compared with those for a control group of the same age but with a shorter exposure duration. The percentage of ill workers and the prevalence rate were both similar to those of the control group. However, as concerns the specific morbidity caused by carbon disulphide exposure, toxic polyneuropathy was present only among the exposed workers. In that group hypertension too reached a higher prevalence rate, statistically significant, although both groups consisted of younger workers of similar age. The prevalence of other diseases was comparable, possibly because of the selection bias, and the “healthy worker effects”. Owing to that effect workers with the most distinct symptoms had been removed from their jobs and, consequently, excluded from examinations. That could have been a reason for underestimating exposure effects.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

152276

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/152276

Publication date:

30.1.1990.

Article data in other languages: serbian

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