Accumulation of urinary 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TTCA) among workers occupationally exposed to carbon disulfide for 1 week.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate if carbon disulfide (CS(2)) accumulates after a 1-week exposure period, and how the work-shift duration and exposure magnitude affects this accumulation for the workers in viscose rayon industry.


METHODS
Six 8-h and seven 12-h workers in the spinning department historically known to be exposed to high air CS(2) were recruited as the exposed groups. Seven workers from other non-CS(2)-exposed departments were recruited as non-exposure controls. Exposure monitoring covered a full work shift with personal breathing zone monitoring. Urine was collected pre- and post-shift every day throughout the 5 consecutive days. 2-Thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid levels in the urine (U-TTCA) were determined.


RESULTS
No detectable values were found for airborne (<0.6 ppm) and urinary (<35 ng/ml) monitoring for the control groups. The exposure levels for a 12-h shift (11.3+/-1.47) (AM+/-S.D.) were significantly greater than for an 8-h shift (6.3+/-0.64). The linear accumulation trend for daily U-TTCA across the workdays was only significant for the 12-h shift at pre-shift. Statistical significance was found in the regression of the ratios for pre-shift U-TTCA to airborne CS(2) levels on the preceding day to the day of the exposure at pre-shift for a 12-h shift (r=0.98, P=0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
The U-TTCA accumulation for occupational exposure to CS(2) was exposure-magnitude-dependent. The linear equations derived in this study indicated that the U-TTCA increment at pre-shift for each additional daily 12-h exposure, after an adjustment for the CS(2) exposure level, was 0.02 mg/g creatinine/ppm of CS(2). The long-term exposure response under such repeated and intermittent conditions should be noteworthy.
Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Council of Labor Affairs, No 99 Lane 407, Heng-Ke Rd., Shijr City, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Tung-Sheng
TS
Shih
Tzu-Chieh
TC
Chou
Ho-Yuan
HY
Chang
Cheng-Chao
CC
Wu
Peng-Yau
PY
Wang
D000328:Adult; D002246:Carbon Disulfide / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002617:Chemical Industry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000652:urine*; D053778:Thiazolidines; D017132:Workplace
D013844:Thiazoles; D053778:Thiazolidines; C031677:2-thioxo-4-thiazolidinecarboxylic acid; D002246:Carbon Disulfide