Philip Morris
Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Occupational Heart Disease
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- Acosta, D., J.R.
- Aviado, D.M.
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ETS AND NEART DISEASE 465
ence in the workplace. during travel, and at leisure. From the standpoint of'
worker ETS exposure. the negative results of Lee et al. (24) are more rele-
vant than positive results of spousal studies that do not include ETS expo-
sure outside the home environment.
Carbon Monoxide
Heart disease mortality rates have been reported for workers exposed to
high levels of carbon, monoxide from vehicular emissions (tunnell workers.
bus drivers, parking attendants) and industrial furnaces (steellfoundry. coke
ovenL chemical manufacture) (25.26). However. the results of occupational
exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide do noo support~ the argument
that this substance contributes to heart disease associated~ with ETS expo-
sure. in which reported levels of the gas are a tirny fraction of'the TLV.
Carbon Disul,/ide/Carbon-vt Sulfide
These two compounds are linke& b~ the fact that the former is ani indus-
trial chemical reported to be associated with heart! disease among workers
producing viscose rayonifibers. This compound is metabolized to carbonyl
sulfide. which happens to be a reported SSS constituent. The concentration
of' carbonyl sulfide is so low that it is unlikel'y to attain the TLV (Table 2:
54.945 cigarettes to attain TLV ). However. it is important to discuss mor-
ialit~ studies of'ravon viscose workers. because other thanicarbon monoa-
ide. carbon disulfide is the onlv industrial chemical for which there are ex-
tensive data on, an association with ischemic heart disease. Ini a critical
review of the toxicologic literature on carbon d'isulfide. Beauchamp et al.
(27)ireviewed data on.the mortality rates of viscose rayon workers. In Fin-
land'~ where there is a: high incidence of ischernic hearti disease. a signifi-
canth-y higher mortality rate has been reportedlamong exposed workers com-
pared to a control group. However, in Japan where there is a notably lower
incidence of ischemic heart, disease. no increased mortality rate has been
reported among viscose rayon workers. The excess deaths attnibuted to car-
boni disulfide became apparenti if predisposing risk factors existed. such ass
hypertension, hyperlipidemia. and excessive intake of cholesterol andisatu-
rated fats (27,28)!
The above observations are essential to consider in attempts to interpret
mortality studies on ETS exposure. Dietaryy intakes of cholesterol and fatty
food were not considered as a confounding factor in mortality studies relat-
ing to workers expose& to the industrial chemicals listed in Table l(with
Method A notation). The reported higher susceptibility of Scandinavians too
heart disease is reflected by the lower TLV (l5 mg/m') compared to:the TLV
in other European countries and the United States (30 mg/m') (18.19).

466 ETS AJx'D HEART DlSE.4SE:
Polvcyciic Aromatic kvdrocarbons (PAFI),
lt has been suggested by proponents of the ETS-heart disease hypothesis
that Scandinavian roofers show excess mortalitvv for ischemic heart disease
(3). They extrapolate from PAH-exposed roofers to ETS-exposed workers
without recognizing the difference in composition of PAH. Exposures to
PAH' among coke oveni workers. creosote wood appliers, and asphalt road
builders have not been reported to be associated! with, excess mortality for
heart disease but have been reported to be associated with excess mortality
for lung cancer. From the standpoint of chemical composition:of PAH ex-
posures determined by nature of product. PAH exposures of roofers are ir-
relevant to ETS exposure (see also Method F).
Heat!Y Metals
Mortality studies on work-related exposure have been reviewed by Kris-
tensen (161. Lead and cadmium workers have been reported to show a higher
mortality rate from heart, disease and' hypertension. Iln the absence of ex-
perimental'l animal studies. heart disease is likely to be a complication of
hypertension, rather than a direct, effect of lead or cadmium onithe heart and
coronary vessels. The suggestion that heart disease may, be associated with
workplace exposure to arsenic or cobalt can. be traced to instances of beer
drinking contaminated with either of these metals. and subsequent death
from cardiomyopathy;
Method B: Exercise Testing and Angina Pectoris
Exercise testing is essential for the diagnosis of ischemic heart disease
(?9). A positive diagnosis is based on the appearance of chest pain or clas-
sical angina pectoris after completion of standardized exercise on a treadrnilll
or bicyclae ergometer. Exercise testing has also beemused to evaluate sever-
ity of arteriosclerotic heart disease based on time of onset of an ischemic
pattern in the electrocardiogram as well as the appearance of cardiac
arrhythmias.
ETS Exposure of Anginal Patients
All available reports on exercise testing do not relate to specific occupa- N
tional groups comparing two subgroups: with ETS exposure an& no ETS C
exposure. There are two studies on anginal patients that suggested to the ~
investigators that ETS exposure during bicycle ergometry may shorten the ~+?
time perio& to onset of chest pain. The first study. reporte& in 1978. con- CA
sisted of a group of ten American male veterans (30). For variow, reasons. ~
~
N

ETS A~N1)~~MEAR7 UISEASE ~ 4fu~7~
the 197t+'protocol for exercise testing was evaluated by an ad hoc committee
of the Environmental'Protection Agency. In 1983'. the committee concluded
that the method used on American male veterans "did not meeta reasonable
standard of scientific quality" (13I ). Ini 1987. a: stud'ti of exercise test-
ing during ETS exposure was reported by Soviet investigators (32)h The re-
sults were essentiallv similar to those reported' from American veterans. lt
is this author's opinionithat shortening onset of anginal pain during exercise
testing as a result of ETS exposure has not been proved pending evaluation
of the Soviet protocol. Anti-anginal drugs sold in the United States arne sup
ported by results of exercise testing in European laboratories that have been
approved hy the U.S, Food and Drug Administration and so far. the list d'oes
not include arn Soviet laboratories.
Influenre of Carbon Monoxide on Exercise Testing
Proponents of' the theory that ETS exposure aggravates angina pectoris
emphasize the presence of carbon monoxide in ETS. in spite of the fact that
the concentration inhal'ed'is 3100 times lower than mainstream smoke. Blood
carboxyhemoglobin levels of suhjects exposed to ETS in public places range
from I to 3 n among nonsmokers. Slight elevations of blood carboxyhemo-
globin level (to 2 and 3.97() have beenireported following administration of
carbon monoxide in air (l001and''_30 mgiM') (33). Exercise testing of heart
disease patients was reported'to result in an ischemic pattern of electrocar-
diogram at these blood carboxyhemoglbbin levels. However, as indicated'in
Table 2. this would require more than )00 and '_'G10, cigarettes burning in, a
sealed enclbsure of I001m' for carbon monoxide to attain about 2 and'4 times
the TLV. respectively.
ETS Exposure as Risk Factor jor Angina Pectoris
Proponents of the claim that'~ ETS exposure aggravates angina pectoriss
have not considered the complexities of the disease separate from other
manifestrations or complications of ischemic heart disease (Le., acute myo-
cardial infarction and sudden deaths). Althoughi prospective and retrospec-
tive studies report that cigarette smoking is one of many risk factors for
acute myocardial infarction and sudden deaths. the data on angina pectoris
are evenimore complex. The 1983 repornof the Surgeon General onicardio-
vascular disease, referring to risk factors, conclud'ed! that "variation in the
strength ofassociation between smokingand angina pectoris may be influenced
by . . . methodological considerations'" lref. 34. p. 70). More recently. it has
beeni argued that the 30-year results of an ongoing prospective studj at
Framingham. Massachusetts. indicate that cigarette smoking is a negative
risk factor in women li.e., incidence lower in women smokers compare& to

40 ETS AJ1'U H£ART 1)ISEASE
uomen nonsmokers) (3i1. The results in men have indicated either a positive
or no significant relationship between cigarette smoking and angina pectoris,
depending on methodological variation. Some studies relating to cardiac pa-
tients admitted to hospitals report that after an initial cardiac episode. the
prognosis is not~ influenced b~ smoking (3637). After the initial' infarction.
prior smoking was not associated with the severity of subsequent compli'.
cations. These observations on cigarette smoking in relation to the prognosis
of myocardiallinfarction and the influence of angina pectoris raise additional
questions. How can ETS. a dilute mixture of tobacco smoke components in
air, aggravate angina pectoris or influence the prognosis of acute myocardial
infarction, in light of recent inconsistencies in data derived from smokers°
Method C: Coronar% BJood Flos lndicators
Coronar~ arteries visualized b\ angiograph\ can shoti obstruction that is
organic (arteriosclerosis and'thrombosis) or nonorganic (ivasospasm) in na-
ture. Total coronary blood floti is measured by a tracer clearance technique.
Patients with ischemic hearti disease shoH a reduction in coronary blood
flo\A that is limited to an infarcted'area. When infarction is detected in work-
ers previously exposed to carboni monoxide or carbon disulfide. it is not
possible to isolate the potential association with chemical exposure from
other potentially confounding risk factors. Carbon monoxide alone. by in-
creasing carboxyhemoglobin. cani increase coronary blood ilou: but the re-
sult would be an oversupply of blood, \vithout reduced oxygen utilizationi
beca.use of poisoning oxidative enzymes. Myocardial metabolism requiress
the sampling of blood from the coronary sinus and a systemic artery to ob-
tain arteriovenous differences of oxygen. carbon dioxide. lipoproteins. and
glucose metabolites. There are more directi methods formeasuring coronary
blood flow in experimental animals (dog. cat. pig. monkeyl: The relhtive
importance of metabolic and neurohumoral control has been evaluated in
experimental animals [see reference cited by Bove (3R)]. It has not been
possible to reproduce coronary heart disease by exposure to tobacco smoke.
which contains nicotine levels higher than ETS, so it is doubtful!that existing
animal models can give positive results from ETS exposure.
Nitroglycerin and organic nitrates are useful vasodilators for the relief of
angina pectoris. The pharmacologic action, of nitrogl'Ncerin is manifeste& in
workers who are expose&daily to nitroglti cerin and ethylene gl}~col dinitrate.
but after a weekend of nonexposure, developichest pain on Monday morn-
ing. Workers suffer from vasospastic angina as a result of nitrate withdrawal
during the weekend and are relieved upon resuming nitrate work exposure..
Autopsied workers did not show coronary arterial obstruction, confirming
the occurrence of vasospastic angina brought abour: hy weekend withdrawal
from nitrate. Workers were acclimatized to the nitrate level in work environ-
ment ( 114-16).

ETS AA'l') NEART l)ISEASE 409
CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS
The term coronary atlterc,.cclcrrrai.v used in this chapter refers to histo-
patholla:ic changes in arteries leading to i.sclierriic huurt di,~cn.%c- (see preced-
iitc section). Although both terms are included in, cnrorrur-N heurt di.Nru.%c-.
there are differences in methodolog~. This section is de~oted to progressive
organic lesions of coronary arteries. the methods for detectiom and their
evolution, based on human observations and animal' experimentation. The
focus is on industrial exposure to carbon disulfide andl carbon monoxide.
because of the relativelti greater amounts of data on these substances. The
potential relevance of these industrial chemicals to ETS exposure is also
discussed.
The demonstration of coronary atherosclerosis id'eally should include his-
topatihologic evidence derived from autopsy (Method D). This has been ac-
complished for worker exposure to carbon disulfide. ti hich has been sup-
ported bN the occurrence of hyperlipidemia in exposed workers and
coronarn atherosclerosis in experimental animals (Metho& EI. Onithe other
hand'. some industrial chemicals are associated'.+ith the development of cor-
onars atherosclerosis based on animal experiments onl} or on hematolbcic
changes in workers that in animals contribute to aortic atherogenesis (see
entries in Table 1). Some of these observations have been used, to supportt
the claim that ETS exposure is involved in coronar} atherosclerosis. A dis-
tinction is made between concepts derived from human studies (Method D).
animal'.experiments (lvlethodlE). and in virro techniques bMethodlFl.
Method D: Coronary AngiographN and Histopatholog)
The most direct method for diagnosis of coronary atherosclerosis ik b~~
histopathologic examination and coronary angiogram. AlthouFh, there are
isolated reports that workers exposed to carbon monoxide suffer from in-
creased coronarv atherosclerosis (antemortem or postmorteml. this expo-
sure is confounded by competing risk factors such as personal habits. famil-
ial historN, and environmentallpollution. Among viscose rayon workers, the
occurrence of coronary atherosclerosis reported at autops} of workers dying
of heart disease led to mortalitN studies (Method A). Workers are also re-
ported tb suffer from hyperlipidemia. which is not entirell due to carbon
disulfide exposure. Tt is difficult to replicate earlier studies on workers using
modern techniques of diagnosing coronary atherosclerosis, because expo
sure levels have come under, strict regulation.
There are no case reports of coronary atherosclerosis iniwor~kers exposed
to a single polynuclear aromatic amine because workplace exposure is to
mixtures that inclhde tienzolulpyrene. Only research Iaboratory workers in-
vestigating benzola)pyrene are candidates for long-term exposure. and so
far there has been no report of a higher incidence of heart disease. There are

470 ETS A'ND HEART DISEASE
also no case reports of coronary atherosclerosis from prolonged exposure to
the heav~ metals and nitrogenous compounds listed in Table l.
Method E: Coronary Atherosclerosis in Experimental Animals
Repeated attempts to induce coronary atherosclerosis in experimental anr
imals by inhalation of cigarette smoke have fail'ed'. Additional feeding with
a cholesterol-enriched diet has reportedly led to the development of athero-
sclerosis notl involving coronary arteries. ln baboons. after 2-3 years of oral
feedine of cholesterol and saturated' fat, and d'aily inhalation of cigarette
smoke. arterial lesions were compared between smokers andl controls.
Among male baboons. the extent of carotid atherosclerosis was greater in
smokers than in controls. but there were no significant differences in athero-
sclerosis of the aorta. coronarv arteries. iliac-femoral, and bronchial arter-
ies. Among female baboons., there were no significantidifferences in athero-
sclerosis between smokers and controls (391'.
The same general remarks appl} to experimental testing of carbon mon-
oxide in levels far exceeding those reported for ETS exposure. Rabbits. pi-
geons. and chickens are reported to need supplementary feeding of choles-
terol to show carbon monoxide-induced aortic atherosclerosis (40).
Carbon disulfide is the only industrial chemicalireported to cause athero-
sclerosis in animals without supplemental cholesterol feeding. Coronary and
aortic atherosclerosis and myocardial lesions were detected in rats after 4
months of inhalation exposure (28). There were elevations of serum choles-
terol. phospholipid. and triglycerides, indicating similt3rity to the human
form of atherosclerosis. Other investigators have tested carbon monoxide
and benzo[a]pyrene an&have not observed hyperdipidemia and atheroscle-
rosis similar to those reported for carbon disulfide. ln the past. research on
carbon monoxide. benzo[a]pyrene. and other polynuclear aromatic hydro
carbons has not been directed to a comparison with carbon disulfide.
Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons have been reported to induce aortic
atherosclerosis in pigeons and chickens (41'--44). It has been speculated that
these studies in birds relate to human subjects exposed to ETS ('). There
are several reasons for the inapplicability of results of these bird experiments
to coronary atherosclerosis: (a) 7,l?-dimethv lbenzo(a,li)anthracene and 3-
methycholanthrene are not known, to be present in ETS: (b) although
benzo[ki]pyrene is reportedly present in ETS, the d'ose administered. 50 mg-
kg injection. is farfetched compare&to concentration levels in SSS. which
is 0.00009 mg/cigarette: (c) hepatic metabolism is essentiallfor atherogenesis
in one strain, but not in the other strain. a sequence that applies to oral or
injected compounds but not to the inhalation route: andl(d) the typical result
is aortic atherosclerosis and! rarely coronary atherosclerosis. Aortic athero-
sclerosis is different fromi coronary atherosclerosis because ofl myocardial
extravascular support in the latter. There are intracardiac mechanisms that
influence coronary circulation, which are absent in other arterial beds.

ETS AND HEART DISEASE 471
There are long-term animal experiments designed to study carcinogenicit~
or polvnuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and. so far. coronary atherosclerosis
t has not been reported in sacrificed animals.
Method F: In Vitro Studies of Hematologic Factors
Hematologic factors include alterations in hemoglobin oxygen transporv
such as carbon monoxide and' methylene chloride increasing carboxyhemo-
globin: andianiline and 2-toluidine leading to methemoglobinemia. The ulti-
mate consequence is a reduced supply of oxygen and presumablN athero-
sclerosis resulting from carbon monoxide. However. prolonged testing withh
methvlene chloride or aniline has not been reported to produce experimental
atherosclerosis, suggesting that these two industrial chemicals reduce hemo-
globinioxygen transport differently from carbon monoxide.
Several techniques have been deveiopedifor the specific purpose of dis-
co\ering therapeutic agents for the prevent6on, suppression. and reversal of
atherosclerosis. Drugs for influencing blood platelets, blood lipoprotein lev-
els. andlend'othelial vulnerability evolved from application of in irtro testing
of blood derived' from patients with ischemic heart disease. as well as pe-
ripheral vascular diseases. The same techniques for identifying therapeutic
agents have also been applied'i to investigating ho.+ carbon monoxide and
ETS might play a role in:atherosclerosis. The interpretation of results de-
rived from one test' has been extended to include the entire progressioni of
atherosclerosis even though the test was intended to show a therapeutic.
rather than toxic. effect of chemical agents..
lii ritco tests have been applied to blood from ETS-exposed subjects.
.
based on the assumption that any reported effect will contribute to coronary
atherosclerosis. It should be pointe& out that chemically induced platelet
aggregatiom leads to vascular clot formation. which does not~ necessaril\ in-
volve interaction with endothelial cells and the formation of atherosclerotic
plaque. Also, in the laboratory. it has not been possible to initiate aortic
plaque formation by exceeding the normal level of fibrinogen. Any reported
increase in fibrinogen level in the blood of ETS-exposed subjects may not,
be relevant to a potential relationship with coronary atherogenesis. Iit is con-
ceivable that. for some people. ETS exposure may be perceived as stressful.
with release of catecholamines. and that catecholamines are responsible for
in vitro testing results. It has not, been possible to conduct a double-blin&
testing of ETS exposure since both, investigator and subject can detect ETS
presence.
Platelet Aggregation
Exposure of healthy nonsmokers to ETS is alleged to alter resulus of in
rirJ-o testing of platelets in platelet-richi plasma. Aggregation of platelets is

472 ETS AA'D, HEART DlSEASE
tested hv the follou inF agents added in riiro: edetic acid and formaldehyde
or prostaglandin. The possibility that ETS exposure increases platelet~aggre-
gation is alleged to be an important step in the evolution of coronary athero>
sclerosis in nonsmokers ('').
In ,iiro studies of platelet aggregation in blood derived'from~smokers have
reported inconsistent results, which question the applicability of this method
to ETS exposure in nonsmokers. Platelet aggregation testing using whole
blood reported no statistically significant differences between nonsmokers
and smokers (45). Cigarette smoking is reportedly associatedi k ith altera-
tions in platelet factors involved in thrombus formation. but the change has
been attributed'to the presence of carbon monoxide levels higher than those
reported in subjects exposed to ETS (46). 1,7 vitrr testing does not necessar-
ily reflect events in rivo. Although platelets may be activated in viro, the}
become attached to ervthrocvtes or form platelet aggregates during the col-
lectioni and centrifugation needed to make platelet-rich plasma. There is
some evidence that acti%ated platelets are lost from supernatant "platelet-
richiplasma." which includes older or less acrive platelets,
Plasma Fibrinogen Levels
Another in riii-n test for a clotting factor has beeni added to: the list of
reports supporting the ETS-heart~ disease hypothesis. Patients with isch-
emic hearti disease tiere questioned about their smoking habits. and non-
smokers were queried for ETS exposure in the v.orkplace and household.
Control suhlects were derived from the same community in Australia (471..
Ih was reported'that the collected blood samples showed higher fibrinogen
concentrations among current smokers than nonsmokers. Subjects exposedl
to ETS had higher levels thani those not, exposed. The differences Here not
statistically significant because of the high variability of measured fibrinogen
levels. According to the questionnaire responses. levels of ETS exposure at
work were reported to be higher than at home, but the estimated odds ratio
for heart disease was less than one. The investigators interpreted their re-
sults to indicate inaccurate reporting of ETS exposure or the possihilitythat
household exposure to ETS is associated more with heart disease than is
workplace exposure. The potential relevance of fibrinogenilevels in relation
to ETS exposure is further questioned' by observations that psvchosocial
factors may influence the plasma fibrinogen concentration in patients with
ischemic heart disease (4Y)..
CARDIAC ARRHYTHAIIA AND M19ti'OPATHI
The third and last group of methods for establishing cardiac toxicologic
profiles for industrial chemicals relate~ to alteration, in cardiac function.

ETS AA'/2 HE-ART 1)lSEAS£ 47-3
The methods are intended to detect irregularities in heart beat or rhythm. to
measure excitabilitN of the intact heart, and to record' electnicaC propertie~
of excised atrium and' papillary, muscle. Cardiac output is measured by° the
tracer dilution technique and ventricular imaging in patients: invasive pro-
cedures are required for application of the Fick principle in patients and
insertion of blood flow recorders in,experimental animals. Perfusion of the
excised heart offers an opportunity of measuring myocardial contractility
and metabolism. Enzymatic studies and electron microscop~ complete the
techniques for~ detecting cardiomyopathy. All these procedures have been
applied to determine the occurrence and mechanism for two groups of dis-
eases: irregular heart beat or arrhythmia, and cardiomyopathy.
Method G: Irregular Heart Beat
Industrial chemical poisoning can be manifested' by irregularities of heart
beat or cardiac arrhythmia. in the order of increasingseverity: ranging from
tach\cardia;or bradycardii3. atrioventricular block. atrial or ventricular ex-
tra~_~ stole. atrial fibrillation. to ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest.
The benign forms lup to atrial fibrillationYare reversible by stopping chem-
ical e.posure., but ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest: reqNire heroic
efforts. Poisonings characterized by cardiac arrhythmies have been reported
for the following (see Table 1. Method G): mosti halogenated and nonhalo
genated'solvents. some nitrogenous compounds, one heavy metal (lead), and
one oxide (carbon monoxide). The arrhythmia results from a direcn action
of the chemical on the heart. specifically by altering excitability. conduction.
and refractoriness of one or more of the following: atrial muscle. atrioven-
tricular node. conducting system. and ventricular muscle. The effects have
been reported in appropriate human studies and animal experimentation.
The occurrence of poisoning by industrial chemicals does not support the
proposition that since the same chemicals ma~ be reported:at minute le\els
in ETS. then ETS also may lead to the development of heart disease in
workers.
Method H: ExperimentallN Induced Cardiom}opathy
The most extreme example of unjustified application of results from ani-
mal experiments to ETS exposure of nonsmokers is as follows: in the course
of attempting to determine whether long-term cigarette smoking leads to
cardiomyopathy; rabbits were exposed in an infant incubator (49). It was
reported that all the smoke fromithree burning cigarettes entered the inlet of
the incubator throughia mechanical device and': rabbits were kept for 30 min.
This description appears to this author as a sealed! chamber with cigarette
smoke entering the inlet for 30-min periods. Several groups of rabbits were

474 ETS AA'DHEART UISEASE
sacrificed: controls, after one 30-min exposure. twice daily exposure for 2
weeks, and twice daily exposure for 8 weeks. The heart was studied' for
mitochondrial', oxidative processes. There was a decrease in respiration as
well as in phosphorylation rate that was interpreted by the investigators as
card'iotnyopathy: The investigators recognized that carbon monoxide in the
incubator was probably responsible for metabolic changes but they did not
monitor air or blood levels.
Hugod and collaborators (50-52) exposed rabbits to one of the following
mixtures: carbon monoxide 220 mg/m' or four times TLV; carbonyl sulfide
130 mg'm' or five times TLV: nitric oxide 6 tng/m' or one-fifth the TLV The
rabbits were in air-tight exposure chambers containing freely flowing air or
predetermined! mixtures in air for periods ranging from I to 7 weeks. The
results of 140 rabbits sacrificed for electron microscopic examination per
formed'blindl\ showed no morphological signs of myocardial damage. The
four vapor constituents. in lfvels far exceeding ETS levels, were not asso-
ciated with ultrastructural changes in rabbit heart. signifying the absence of
cardiomyopathy..
The rabbit exposure studies described~ above were extended to include
biochemical and histomorphologic investigation of atherosclerosis. Expo-
sure to each of the four gas-air mixtures was not related to intimal damage
of the aorta and coronary arteries. The negative results noted for carbonyJl
sulfide exposed rabbits do not support the claim,thai this known metabolite
for carbon disulfide is responsible for coronary atherosclerosis reported' by
other investigators.
Cardiomyopathy has been reported following exposure to halbgenatedisol-
vents, based on case reports of poisoning and experimentallstudies on intact
and perfused heart. Cardiomyopathy from heavy metals is described'in case
reports of individuals drinking beer from containers that leached' arsenic.
cadmium. or lead (16): Cardiomyopathy from hydrocyanic aci&is also based
on case reports of poisoning and is readily, supported by biochemical studies
of heart muscle. Carbon monoxide is probably the most~ frequently encoun-
tered industrial and household chemical associated with death bvy cardio-
myopathy. History of exposure to vehicular emissions or household natural
gas is verifiable by blood'analysis for carboxyhemoglobin. Among nonhal-
ogenated solvents. only phenol has been reportedly related to cardiomyop-
athy.(161~
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Among more than 32 industrial chemicals potentiallN related to heart dis-
ease, only four substances or chemical classes have extensive supportive
evidence: carbon monoxide, carbon disulfide. ethylene glycol dinitrate and
organic nitrates, and methylene chloride and halogenated solvents. The ef-
