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Increased intima-media thickness in rayon workers after long-term exposure to carbon disulfide

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Abstract

Introduction

Long-term exposure to carbon disulfide (CS2) is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. However, previous studies on actual vascular changes showed heterogeneous results. Intima-media thickness of the carotid arteries (IMT) represents an established marker of atherosclerosis and a reasonable surrogate marker for cardiovascular risk. IMT was examined in a large cohort of CS2 exposed workers and the association with cumulative CS2 exposure analysed.

Methods

In a cross-sectional examination, 290 exposed and 137 non-exposed workers in a German rayon-manufacturing plant were assessed. Individual cumulative exposure was calculated from this assessment combined with the results of two cross-sectional studies in 1992 and 1999 and department-specific annual means of ambient (CECS2) and individual biological (CETTCA) monitoring results obtained 1992–2009. Furthermore, cumulative duration of working in CS2-exposed departments (CEYEARS) was calculated. Examination included assessment of a broad set of known cardiovascular risk factors and IMT measurement of the carotid arteries on both sides. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed with IMT as outcome and three variants of cumulative exposure (duration of exposure, cumulative CS2, and cumulative TTCA) as well as categorised maximum CS2 exposure, all adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors.

Results

All models of cumulative exposure showed a significant increase in IMT in the group with the highest level of exposure: CEYEARS > 20 years, β = 0.045 mm; CECS2 > 270 ppm × years, β = 0.052 mm; CETTCA > 33 mg/g creatinine × years, β = 0.038 mm. Alternatively, addressing maximum exposure, workers with CS2 exposure of >10 ppm in at least 3 years exhibited a significant IMT increase (β = 0.068 mm).

Conclusion

Long-term CS2 exposure is an independent risk factor concerning IMT changes. The amount of IMT increase, in a similar range as that associated with other cardiovascular risk factors, might be clinically relevant.

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Acknowledgments

The study was carried out with financial support from the Industrieverband Chemiefaser (IVC) and the Franz Koelsch Foundation. We would like to thank all participants that took part in the study and the management of the plants for their support. We also acknowledge Fritz Freudlsperger for assisting in planning and carrying out the study, Alfred Koenig for providing the company internal records and information on circumstances of data collection, Barbara Bär for collecting anamnestic data, Nina Zonnur for collecting anamnestic data and carrying out TTCA analyses and Johannes Müller for carrying out CS2 air analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Schwabachanlage 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany

    Axel Schramm, Meike Brandt & Martin Köhrmann

  2. Department of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany

    Wolfgang Uter

  3. Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany

    Thomas Göen, Thomas Baumeister & Hans Drexler

Authors
  1. Axel Schramm
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  2. Wolfgang Uter
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  3. Meike Brandt
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  4. Thomas Göen
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  5. Martin Köhrmann
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  6. Thomas Baumeister
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  7. Hans Drexler
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Correspondence to Axel Schramm.

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Schramm, A., Uter, W., Brandt, M. et al. Increased intima-media thickness in rayon workers after long-term exposure to carbon disulfide. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 89, 513–519 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-015-1091-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-015-1091-5

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