Carbon disulphide

The reported investigations on the uptake of carbon disulphide (CS₂) and the excretion of its metabolite 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TTCA) were based on results from 403 personal air samples (352 passive and 51 active samples) and 362 TTCA determinations in biological material measured during a field study on the adverse effects due to CS₂ exposure. The external exposure ranged from below the detection limit (0.2 ppm) to 66 ppm and the urinary TTCA excretion from below the detection limit (0.16 mg./1) to 33.4 mg/1. The excretion of TTCA in postshift urine related to creatinine and volume showed a linear correlation to the CS₂ air concentration. On the basis of these results the influence on the internal exposure of physical work load, dermal exposure and individual parameters (age, Brocaindex, disturbed skin barrier) was evaluated. Correlations between the TTCA values in the postshift urine and the individually measured CS₂ concentrations were carried out separately for individual departments and persons with and without indications of a disturbed skin barrier. In order to be able to judge the individual internal exposure related to external exposure, a personal quotient was formed from the TTCA level in the urine and the CS₂ air concentration measured on the same day (relative interal exposure RIE index = TTCA mg/g creatinine/CS₂ in ppm). On investigating interindividual differences, higher relative internal exposures were found in persons with a heavy physical work load and more intensive skin contact. It could be shown for a large group of persons exposed to CS₂ that a pathological skin condition leads to an increase in the dermal penetration rate of hazardous substances. By means of the RIE index it could be shown that the TTCA excretion related to the individual external exposure increases significantly with a decreasing Broca index, which must be taken into consideration with greatly overweight persons and exposures in the range of the currently valid threshold limit values. The interindividual differences in internal exposure found at the same ambient air concentration emphasize the importance of biological monitoring for individual health protection and the setting of biological threshold limit values.Dedicated to Professor G. Zehnert on the occassion of his 65th birthday