Korean J Occup Environ Med.  2003 Jun;15(2):150-161.

Health Evaluation of ex-workers occupationally exposed to Carbon disulfide: Subjective Symptoms and Related Factors according to compensation for CS2 poisoning

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Occupational Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Korea. jjkim@hosp.sch.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Korea.
  • 3Wonjin Green Hospital, Korea.
  • 4School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Korea.

Abstract


OBJECTIVES
To investigate the chronological subjective symptoms and related factors in ex-workers who were occupationally exposed to Carbon disulfide.
METHODS
One hundred and seventy-seven subjects (147 males and 30 females) were randomly selected among ex-workers and interviewed by well trained doctors, who filled out a structured questionnaire developed by authors on the subjective symptoms. The questionnaire was composed of symptoms in the head and neck, and those of the neuro-psychological, respiratory, endocrine, musculoskeletal, and reproductive systems. Other factors such as general and occupational characteristics including work department, work duration, duration since cessation of exposure, and compensation for occupational disease were also investigated.
RESULTS
The mean subject age was 55.4 years. The mean cumulative exposure index (CEI) was 38.96 +/- 31.18. CEI was significantly higher in the compensated group (47.61 +/- 32.51) than in the non-compensated group (26.81 +/- 24.75)(p=0.000). Symptom complaints were significantly higher in the compensated group in all organ systems, and their incidence increased gradually until 10 years after cessation of work, and then decreased. The mean duration for cessation of exposure at the time of compensation was 10.97 years. The significantly different factors between the compensated group and the non-compensated group were total cumulative exposure index and the time interval between the cessation of work and the time of compensation.
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that total cumulative exposure index and the time interval between the cessation of work and the time of compensation may be important factors affecting the compensation for occupational disease. Therefore, further studies will be necessary.

Keyword

Carbon disulfide; Ex-workers; Subjective symptoms

MeSH Terms

Carbon Disulfide*
Carbon*
Compensation and Redress*
Head
Humans
Incidence
Male
Neck
Occupational Diseases
Occupations*
Poisoning*
Questionnaires
Carbon
Carbon Disulfide
Full Text Links
  • KJOEM
Actions
Cited
CITED
export Copy
Close
Share
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
Similar articles
Copyright © 2024 by Korean Association of Medical Journal Editors. All rights reserved.     E-mail: koreamed@kamje.or.kr