Occupational combined exposure to carbon disulfide and lead

ABSTRACT

This study comprises 118 workers exposed to CS[2] vapour, 90 exposed to CS[2] vapour and Pb fumes [combined-exposure workers], 96 exposed to Pb, and 94 control subjects. They were subjected to medical examination, performance of ECG, measurement of pulmonary function and biomonitoring of blood Pb and/or urinary iodine azide. Signs presenting significantly high prevalence among combined exposure workers included pain in hands and feet, decrease or absence of knee and ankle reflexes, decrease of FEV[1.0] /FVC and predicted FEV[1.0] hypotension, increase of heart rate and sinus tachycardia, and decrease in level of cholesterol. However, presented data indicated precipitation of ischaemic heart diseases due to chronic Pb exposure. It has been suggested that the combined exposure to CS[2] and Pb has an additive effect on the heart rate and prevalence of sinus tachycardia; although it appeared to cause hypotension and reduction in the level of cholesterol which have been suggested to be further investigated