Metabolic syndrome in carbon disulfide-poisoned subjects in Korea: does chemical poisoning induce metabolic syndrome?

Abstract

Mass carbon disulfide (CS2) poisoning was reported at a viscose rayon factory in Korea. We evaluated the association between CS2 poisoning and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. The cases (n = 170) involved CS2-poisoned subjects, who participated in a health examination conducted at a hospital in Korea in 2005. The controls (n = 170) were selected randomly from the participants in the third Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Metabolic syndrome was defined as having at least three of following metabolic abnormalities: abdominal obesity, elevated triglyceride, reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, and elevated fasting glucose levels. After adjusting for covariates (age, gender, education, marital status, alcohol consumption, and smoking), CS2-poisoned subjects had an increased risk of metabolic syndrome (prevalence ratio 1.57, 95% CI 1.25-1.98). The findings suggest that CS2 poisoning may increase the risk of metabolic syndrome.