Examination of the efficiency of personal protective measures against carbon disulphide exposure by biological monitoring

Within an occupational-medical study the efficiency of individual protectiv e measures against the exposure to carbon disulphide (CS2) was investigated . The statements about the use of personal protective measures of 325 male CS2 exposed employees were compared with the results of the relative intern al exposure (RIB index). The RIB index was determined as the quotient of th e biological exposure marker (thiothiazolidinecarboxylic acid in urine) and the personal ambient exposure to CS2. The results showed a distinct protec tive effect of the use of breathing masks, which were regularly worn with f resh air stream. No effect on the resorption of carbon disulphide was obser ved for the use of protective gloves. On the other hand, a tendency to a re duction of CS2 uptake was recognized by the frequent application of skin pr otective creams. The results of the study prompts the recommendation to use biological monitoring for assessing the efficiency of personal protective measures in practice with a view to an improvement of primary prevention.