TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR CHROMIUM - Davidborowski.com

CHROMIUM 1192. HEALTH EFFECTSchromium sulfate (1 mg chromium(III)/kg) however, did not cause skin ulcers in guinea pigs (Samitz andEpstein 1962).Dermal sensitization due to hypersensitivity to chromium is discussed in Section 2.2.3.3.Ocular Effects. An extensive epidemiological survey was conducted of housewives who lived in anarea of Tokyo, Japan, in which contamination from chromium slag at a construction site was discoveredin 1973. The housewives included in the study were those who lived in the area from 1978 to 1988, andcontrols included housewives who lived in uncontaminated areas. Questionnaires, physical examinations,and clinical tests were conducted annually. Higher incidences of subjective complaints of eye irritationwere reported by the exposed population than by the control population in the early years of the survey,but in later years the difference between the two groups became progressively less (Greater Tokyo Bureauof Hygiene 1989).Direct contact of the eyes with chromium compounds also causes ocular effects. Corneal vesication wasdescribed in a worker who accidentally got a crystal of potassium dichromate or a drop of a potassiumdichromate solution in his eye (Thomson 1903). In an extensive study of chromate workers in seven U.S.chromate production plants, eyes were examined because accidental splashes of chromium compoundsinto the eye had been observed in these plants. Congestion of the conjunctiva was found in 38.7% of the897 workers, discharge in 3.2%, corneal scaring in 2.3%, any abnormal finding in 40.8%, and burning in17.0%, compared with respective frequencies of 25.8, 1.3, 2.6, 29.0, and 22.6% in 155 nonchromateworkers. Only the incidences of congestion of the conjunctiva and any abnormal findings weresignificantly higher in the exposed workers than in the controls (PHS 1953).Instillation of 0.1 mL of a 1,000 mg chromium(VI)/L solution of sodium dichromate and sodiumchromate (pH 7.4) was not irritating or corrosive to the eyes of rabbits (Fujii et al. 1976). Histologicalexamination of the eyes of rats exposed to chromium dioxide (15.5 mg chromium(IV)/m 3 ) in air revealedno lesions (Lee et al. 1989).2.2.3.3 Immunological and Lymphoreticular EffectsIn addition to the irritating and ulcerating effects, direct skin contact with chromium compounds elicits anallergic response, characterized by eczema or dermatitis, in sensitized individuals. Numerous studieshave investigated the cause of dermatitis in patients and in workers in a variety of occupations and