Industrial Hygiene Testing Services

Huntington Beach, CA, January 29, 2024

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) describes carbon disulfide 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.

In California and across the nation, there are a number of industries that use carbon disulfide as a building block in organic chemistry and as an industrial solvent. NIOSH lists some examples of workers at potential risk of being exposed to carbon disulfide, they include:

• 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

“Workers can be harmed from exposure to carbon disulfide,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager at LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility. “Occupational exposure can occur by breathing contaminated air, skin contact, or by drinking water or consuming foods that contain it. NIOSH warns that exposure can cause dizziness, poor sleep, headache, anxiety, anorexia, weight loss and vision changes. It can also harm the eyes, kidneys, blood, heart, liver, nerves and skin. ATSDR reports breathing very high levels can be life threatening because of its effects on the nervous system. The agency also says breathing low levels for long periods may result in headaches, tiredness, trouble sleeping, and slight changes in the nerves.”

To protect workers, the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) has set a Threshold Limit Value (TLV) for carbon disulfide and Cal/OSHA also has its own Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). Back in 1989, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) added it to the Prop 65 list as known to cause reproductive toxicity.

California businesses that utilize carbon disulfide and other chemicals can turn to the industrial hygiene and environmental testing professionals at LA Testing. They offer laboratory services, sampling supplies and personal protective equipment to assess and mitigate occupational exposure risks. These services protect workers and help companies comply with health and safety regulations. LA Testing has even sponsored an educational video about carbon disulfide and potential occupational exposure risks that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/Subn7aBxINU

To learn more about this or other industrial hygiene, environmental, health and safety testing resources, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794.
 

About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for environmental and indoor air quality testing of asbestos, mold, bacteria, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, CDC ELITE, NVLAP, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including South Pasadena, Huntington Beach, San Leandro and San Diego.