Blood Electrolyte Levels in Long-term Occupational Exposure to Carbon Disulphide

Abstract

Blood electrolyte levels were studied in 95 workers of a synthetic fibre plant, exposed for up to 25 years to carbon disulphide (CS2) at relatively low air concentrations. In the group of workers exposed up to five years increases in the plasma sodium and chlorine levels and decreases in the erythrocyte potassium and calcium level as well as decreaeses in the calcium transmembrane gradient, in the calcium/magne-sium ratio in both blood compartments and in the calcium/phosphorus ratio in erythrocytes were found. Exposure to CS2 for over ten years caused a slight increase in the plasma potassium and a decrease in the plasma calcium levels, a decrease in the sodium transmem-brane gradient and an increase in the potassium/calcium plasma ratio. In workers exposed to CS2 from six to ten years, the blood electrolyte charac-teristics were, in some respects, similar to those in workers with shorter, while in others, to those in workers with longer exposure. Those findings refer only to mean group values of the above mentioned parameters. The individual blood electrolyte values were excessively variable. Because of this variability blood electrolyte levels cannot be recommended as laboratory signs of chronic CS2 effects.