A neurophysiological study among Chinese CS2-exposed workers.

A neurophysiological study was carried out to examine peripheral neurotoxicity of extremely low levels of CS2, that is, less than 2 ppm (TWA-8hr) among Chinese viscose rayon workers. From the subjects who participated in a 1981 cross-sectional medical survey, 70 male workers exposed to CS2 and age-matched unexposed workers were randomly selected for the present neurophysiological examination. The conduction velocities of motor, sensory and slower motor fibres of the right ulnar nerve were measured using the same methods as those in the study by Seppäläinen (1974). Skin temperature was measured at the middle of the volar surface of the right forearm with a Thermistor thermometer. According to an earlier occupational hygiene survey in the plant, current personal exposures determined by a passive dosimeter method were very low; the average of daily exposure of 7 jobs studied was 1.45 ppm (range 0.2-5.0). Past and current area sampling data also suggested that occupational hygiene conditions regarding CS2 exposure in the plant had been extremely good for the previous 6 years. The present neurophysiological study clearly showed that significant reduction in the conduction velocities of motor and slower motor fibres of the ulnar nerve was detected as a consequence of chronic exposure to low levels of CS2. In the previous cross-sectional medical survey, no retinopathy was found among Chinese workers exposed to CS2 at this level. These results suggested that an effect of CS2 on the peripheral nerve would appear earlier than that on the retina.