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

Objective: Mass carbon disulfide (CS(2)) poisoning was reported at a viscose rayon factory in Korea. We evaluated the association between CS(2) poisoning and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome.

Methods: The cases (n = 170) involved CS(2)-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.

Results: After adjusting for covariates (age, gender, education, marital status, alcohol consumption, and smoking), CS(2)-poisoned subjects had an increased risk of metabolic syndrome (prevalence ratio 1.57, 95% CI 1.25-1.98).

Conclusions: The findings suggest that CS(2) poisoning may increase the risk of metabolic syndrome.