Summary
The response to a standardized angina and infarction questionnaire, the occurrence of coded resting and postexercise ECG findings suggestive of coronary heart disease (CHD), and blood pressure were studied among 417 male Japanese and 237 Finnish workers exposed occupationally to carbon disulfide (CS2) and their controls, 391 Japanese and 233 Finnish men without such exposure. All of the subjects were aged 35 to 54 years. Among the Japanese subjects only seven exposed and one unexposed worker had a history of angina; typical angina was present in two exposed and in none of the unexposed men; and one had a history of possible myocardial infarction. In the Finnish exposed and unexposed groups the prevalence were 15 and 10% for total angina, and 4 and 4% for typical angina, respectively. No impressive differences emerged in the prevalences of “coronary” ECG items between the exposed and unexposed groups. The presence of “coronary” ECG findings was no more frequent in those with a history of angina than in those workers without such findings. None of the exposed and unexposed Japanese subjects with “coronary” ECG changes gave history of angina or infarction. The “coronary” ECG prevalences for the Finnish exposed and unexposed men were 30 and 24%. If a history of angina together with “coronary” ECG abnormalities are taken as evidence of probable CHD, the total prevalence among the Japanese was 0 % for both the exposed and the unexposed group; and among the Finns, 5 and 2%, respectively. Smoking history, obesity, and blood pressure showed no marked differences in the Japanese groups. The diastolic and systolic blood pressure were significantly higher among the exposed Finnish workers than among the controls. The study yielded no evidence for an increased occurrence of the examined parameters among the Japanese workers exposed to carbon disulfide, whereas the exposure seemed causally associated with excess angina and high blood pressure among the Finns. The potential CHD induced by CS2 seemed to be undetectable by means of electrocardiography.
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Toloneni, M., Hernberg, S., Nordmani, CH. et al. Angina pectoris, electrocardiographic findings and blood pressure in Finnish and Japanese workers exposed to carbon disulfide. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 37, 249–264 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00380109
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00380109