Toxic Tuesdays

Carbon disulfide is a colorless liquid chemical that readily evaporates at room temperature. It occurs naturally during composting and volcanic eruptions, but most carbon disulfide is manufactured by humans for industrial purposes. Most manufactured carbon disulfide is used in the production of rayon, a semi-synthetic fiber used to make clothing. Other uses of carbon disulfide include manufacturing of cellophane, certain pesticides, and vulcanized rubber.

While carbon disulfide enters the environment from naturally occurring sources, most of it comes from emissions from industrial facilities that make or use it. Most carbon disulfide that enters soil or surface water quickly evaporates into the air. This means that the primary way people become exposed to carbon disulfide is through breathing contaminated air. People who work at rayon manufacturing facilities are the most likely to become exposed, but people who live near these facilities have been known to be exposed as well. When pesticides manufactured with carbon disulfide break down in the environment, the carbon disulfide can be released. People who work with these pesticides or live near where they’re applied can become exposed at high levels too.

Long-term inhalation of carbon disulfide causes serious nervous system dysfunction, including tremors, abnormal movement, decreased sensitivity to pain, and vision impairment. It can also cause elevated cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. Short-tern inhalation of high levels of carbon disulfide can also cause serious neurological dysfunction including psychosis, paranoia, mood changes, and hearing problems. Adverse health effects associated with carbon disulfide inhalation have been known since the early 1900s.

The evidence is clear that carbon disulfide exposure is dangerous to human health, and its use can be replaced in many industries. For example, there are ways to produce rayon that don’t use carbon disulfide, but they are not widely used because they are more expensive. Regulations that stop carbon disulfide use in these industrial processes would protect human health without having to end production of these useful consumer goods.