Disulfiram as an Indicator of Human Susceptibility to Carbon Disulfide

Abstract

It may be assumed that carbon disulfide and disulfiram (Antabuse) are metabolized by the same or similar enzyme system. By determination of diethyldithiocarbamates (DDC) in the urine after disulfìram administration it is hoped to evaluate the rate of which sulfur compounds are metabolized in various groups of workers exposed to CS2 in the viscose factory. It seems that the increase in CS2 exposore causes a decrease in the DDC excretion with the lowest value in once-poisoned workers. It is supposed that differences between controls and poisoned workers are showing the capacity of individuals to metabolize the sulfur compounds. It is hoped that such tests will provide an index of metabolism to assure suitable job placement by detecting those workers who will not be hypersus- ceptible to the effects of CS2.