BIOLOGICAL MONITORING OF WORKERS EXPOSED TO CARBON-DISULFIDE

Urinary 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TTCA) concentrations and corresponding personal breathing zone carbon disulfide (CS2) air conc entrations were measured for worker populations at a Tennessee rubber product facility and a Virginia viscose rayon plant. At the rubber pro duct facility, all of the 19 workers had urinary TTCA levels less than the limit of detection (LOD) of about 0.03 mg/L, equivalent to less t han 0.5 ppm of CS2 in air. At the viscose rayon plant, five of six wor kers, although wearing half-mask cartridge respirators, showed increas ed urinary TTCA during the workshift. The cutters and spinners had the largest increases in urinary TTCA concentrations; they also had the h ighest breathing zone exposures to CS2. The TTCA concentrations for th ree cutters and spinners did not return to normal preshift levels of < 0.3 mg/g creatinine before the start of the next shift. The arithmetic mean respirator workplace protection factor (WPF) was 7.0 +/- 2.2. In crease in urinary TTCA concentration during the workshift and postshif t urinary TTCA concentration reflected CS2 air concentration equally w ell. In conjunction with air monitoring results, urinary TTCA concentr ation allow determination of the WPF afforded workers wearing respirat ors and identify workers workers not adhering to safety rules and good work practices. Workers at risk of adverse health effects from overex posure to CS2 for any reason may thus be identified. (C) 1998 Wiley-Li ss, Inc.