Carbon Disulfide

Overview

CAS No. 75-15-0

Carbon disulfide (CS₂) is a colorless liquid with an ether-like odor. Exposure can cause dizziness, poor sleep, headache, anxiety, anorexia, weight loss, and vision changes. It can harm the eyes, kidneys, blood, heart, liver, nerves, and skin. Workers may be harmed by carbon disulfide. The level of exposure depends upon the dose, duration, and work being done.

Carbon disulfide is used in many industries. It’s used to make rubber, viscose rayon, cellophane, and carbon tetrachloride. Some examples of workers at risk of being exposed to carbon disulfide include the following:

• 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

NIOSH recommends that employers use Hierarchy of Controls to prevent injuries. If you work in an industry that uses carbon disulfide, please read chemical labels and the accompanying Safety Data Sheets for hazard information. Visit NIOSH’s page on Managing Chemical Safety in the Workplace to learn more about controlling chemical workplace exposures.

The following resources provide information about occupational exposure to carbon disulfide. A useful search term for carbon disulfide includes “carbon bisulfide,” “carbon sulfide,” and “carbon disulphide.”

NIOSH Chemical Resources

Related NIOSH Resources

• NIOSHTIC-2 search results on carbon disulfide—NIOSHTIC-2 is a searchable database of worker safety and health publications, documents, grant reports, and journal articles supported in whole or in part by NIOSH.
• Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH) of Carbon Disulfide—NIOSH reviews relevant scientific data and researches methods for developing IDLH values.
• Carbon Disulfide: Rubber and Plastics Chemical Manufacturing—The NIOSH Worker Notification Program notifies workers and other stakeholders about the findings of these research studies.
• Carbon Disulfide: Tire and Rubber Company—The NIOSH Worker Notification Program notifies workers and other stakeholders about the findings of these research studies.

Selected Publications

• Criteria for a Recommendation Standard: Occupational Exposure to Carbon Disulfide. DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 77-156 (1977)—This report increases awareness and recommends work practices to reduce exposures to carbon disulfide in the workplace.
• Carbon Disulfide (No. 1600)—Sampling and measurement data from NMAM, fourth edition.
• Occupational Health Guideline for Carbon Disulfide—This guideline helps stakeholders conduct effective occupational safety and health programs.

Related Resources

• ASTR ToxFAQs for Carbon Disulfide
• ASTR Toxic Substance Portal for Carbon Disulfide
• EPA Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGLs): Carbon Disulfide
• EPA Chemistry Dashboard: Carbon Disulfide
• EPA Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS): Carbon Disulfide
• OSHA Federal Register Correction to Preamble of Air Contaminants Standard: Carbon Disulfide
• OSHA Hazard Communication
• OSHA Occupational Chemical Database: Carbon Disulfide
• NLM Haz-Map: Carbon Disulfide
• NLM TOXNET: Carbon Disulfide
• New Jersey Hazardous Substance Fact Sheets: Carbon Disulfide

International Resources

• European Chemicals Agency (ECHA): Carbon Disulfide
• Gestis Substance Database
• International Chemical Safety Card: Carbon Disulfide
• IPCS INCHEM (CICADS) 46: Carbon Disulfide
• IPCS INCHEM Environmental Health Criteria 10: Carbon Disulfide
• IPCS INCHEM Information Monograph 102: Carbon Disulfide
• OECD Global Portal to Information on Chemical Substances
• WHO Air Quality Guidelines (2nd ed.): Carbon Disulfide