Study on the Progression of Biological Effects of Workers Following Termination of CS2 Exposure: In Cases of Peripheral Polyneuritis and Retinal Change

Yum, Y T; Kim, K J; Kim, S D; Lee, E I; Park, H K; Jung, H R; Kwon, H K

Abstract

The object of this study was to evaluate the possibility of new development of polyneuropathy and microaneurysm in dundus in workers who did not have polyneuropathy and microaneurysm in dundus in the electromyogram(EMG) and ophthalmoscopic examination. The total number of subjects was 144 workers who had the EMG and funduscopic examination done at leat twice. There were two kinds of subjects. The one of subjects was a total of 120 workers who were examined at least twice in their annual health examination for carbon disulfide poisoning. The other subjects were 3 total of 24 volunteer workers who worked in the rayon manufacturing factory. The results were as follows; 1. There was no cases of polyneuropathy or microaneurysm in volunteers. 2. The new cases of polyneuropathy were detected in 12 (14.3%) out of 84 subjects, and those of microaneurysm in fundus were detected in 30 (26.5%) out of 113 subjects. 3. We investigated the variables showing difference between the new cases and other cases who had no polyneuropathy or microaneurysm in fundus in repeated examinations. The both of polyneuropathy and microaneurysm cases had higher commulative exposure index, and most of them were workers in the department of spinning where the concentration of CS0 in air was highest in the rayon manufacturing company. 4. There were no statistically significant variables by logistic regression analysis in the polyneuropathy cases, The cummulative index and the department were the statistically significant variable in the development of microaneurysms. ' 5. Above findings showed that workers who had high exposure history of CS2 as the workers in spinning department, had greater chance to develop the polyneuropathy or microaneurysm. But tHere were some limitations to conclude the association between the CS2 exposure and development of polyneuropatHy or microaneurysm. Limitations are follows short follow-up period, small number of cases, and possibility of measurement error including imperfect sensitivity or specificity of electrodiagnostic test and examiner's difference of ophthalmoscopic examination. Therefore more cases and longer follow-up period are needed to study the progression of polyneuropathy or microaneurysm.