Decreased carotid artery distensibility as a sign of early atherosclerosis in viscose rayon workers

Carbon disulphide (CS₂) is known to accelerate atherosclerosis and to increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases. To assess the effect of CS₂ on the functional (distensibility and compliance) and the structural (intima media thickness) properties of the common carotid artery, and blood pressure and lipid metabolism parameters, a cross-sectional study on 85 workers from a viscose rayon factory and 37 controls was carried out. Exposure to CS₂ was assessed by personal monitoring and was well below the threshold limit value-time weighted average. Carotid arterial wall properties were determined using a non-invasive ultrasound wall movement detector system. No significant effect of CS₂ on blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or triglycerides was found. Among the vascular parameters studied, only distensibility was significantly lower and heart rate was significantly higher in exposed subjects compared with the controls. In conclusion, occupational exposure to CS₂ may cause early alterations in arterial elastic properties in young individuals, and even before lipid and clinical findings have occurred, important functional changes in the vessel wall are present.