title: Electrocardiographic abnormality for workers exposed to carbon disulfide at a viscose rayon plant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated electrocardiography (ECG) manifestations for male workers with carbon disulfide exposure at rayon manufacturing plants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 251 men in the exposure group and 226 administrative clerks in the reference group received physical examinations and completed questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of ECG abnormalities was much higher in the carbon disulfide exposure group (25.9%, n = 65) than in the reference group (2.7%, n = 6), with an odds ratio (OR) of 12.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.4-30.2). The foremen were at the highest risk of abnormal ECG (OR = 20.6, 95% CI = 6.5-65.2), followed by filament-spinning workers (OR = 14.2, 95% CI = 5.7-35.3), viscose-manufacturing workers (OR = 11.3, 95% CI = 4.3-30.1), and carbon disulfide-manufacturing workers (OR = 8.1, 95% CI = 2.7-25.6). The multivariate logistic regression analysis based on cumulative exposure index also showed a dose-response relationship with the exposure, and the risk of ECG abnormality could be initiated at the exposure history of 31 to 57 year-ppm with an OR of 7.2 (95% CI = 1.5-36.7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In general, the ECG abnormalities observed in workers at the permissible exposure level of carbon disulfide implicate the importance of environmental control of the chemical and of workers' education in exposure prevention at work.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial Management, Aletheia University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Ju
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Tung-Sheng
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Tzu-Chieh
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Chiou-Jong
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ho-Yuan
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Pau-Chung
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fung-Chang
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002246:Carbon Disulfide / Q000506:poisoning*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015984:Causality; D002482:Cellulose; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013783:Textile Industry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D002482:Cellulose; C012024:rayon, purified; D002246:Carbon Disulfide