Protecting Workers from Exposure Risks to Carbon Disulfide and Other Industrial Chemicals

Carbon disulfide (CS₂) is described by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as a colorless liquid with an ether-like odor. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) reports that carbon disulfide evaporates at room temperature and the vapor is more than twice as heavy as air.

Occupational exposure can cause dizziness, poor sleep, headache, anxiety, anorexia, weight loss, and vision changes according to NIOSH. It can harm the eyes, kidneys, blood, heart, liver, nerves, and skin. ATSDR warns breathing very high levels can be life threatening because of carbon disulfide’s effects on the nervous system. The agency also states breathing low levels for long periods may result in headaches, tiredness, trouble sleeping, and slight changes in the nerves.

NIOSH lists some examples of workers at potential risk of being exposed to carbon disulfide, including:

• Factory workers who work where rubber is made or processed
• Workers involved in cellophane production
• Employees who work in factories where rayon fabric is made
• Employees involved in the production of carbon tetrachloride

“Carbon disulfide is used in numerous industries as a building block in organic chemistry and as an industrial solvent,” said Frank Selamie, President of CTSI. “Exposure in the workplace is most likely to occur by breathing contaminated air or due to skin contact. To protect workers from exposure risks to carbon disulfide, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) and NIOSH has a Recommended Exposure Limit (REL).”

Companies and institutions that utilize carbon disulfide or other industrial chemicals can turn to CTSI to help protect their employees and maintain regulatory compliance. Their industrial hygiene and safety professionals offer testing, monitoring, consulting, and training services to identify and mitigate these types of occupational exposure risks. CTSI also recently sponsored an educational video about carbon disulfide in the workplace that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/Subn7aBxINU

To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, indoor air quality, environmental, health, and safety services, please visit www.ctsiweb.com, email contactus@ctsiweb.com , or call (212) 971-7016.

About CTSI
Established in 1992, Consulting & Testing Services, Inc. (CTSI) was founded on one strong commitment: to provide efficient and expert services to clients based on professionalism, innovation, and cost-effective expert solutions. This commitment has been furthered with CTSI’s reputation in fostering client relationships in all sectors of the Environmental, Health, Safety, and Construction industries. CTSI prides itself in utilizing a high quality service based on its diverse team of staff and professionals’ concise recommendations and solutions to the most pressing dilemmas. The company operates offices in New York and Florida that service clients across the United States.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail