TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR CHROMIUM - Davidborowski.com

CHROMIUM 1222. HEALTH EFFECTSGuinea pigs can be sensitized to chromium(VI) and chromium(III) compounds by a series of intradermalinjections of 0.009 mg chromium(VI)/kg as potassium dichromate or of 0.004 mg chromium(III)/kg aschromium trichloride. Regardless of the compound used to sensitize the guinea pigs, subsequent patchtesting with chromium(VI) or chromium(III) yielded the same erythmatic reaction. The response,however, was greater when chromium(VI) was used as the sensitizer (Gross et al. 1968). Similarly, thesame erythmatic response to chromium(VI) and chromium(III) compounds was noted in guinea pigssensitized to 0.04 mg chromium(VI)/kg as potassium dichromate or 0.03 mg chromium(III)/kg aschromium sulfate (Jansen and Berrens 1968).No studies were located regarding the following health effects in humans or animals after dermalexposure to chromium compounds:2.2.3.4 Neurological Effects2.2.3.5 Reproductive Effects2.2.3.6 Developmental Effects2.2.3.7 Genotoxic EffectsGenotoxicity studies are discussed in Section 2.5.2.2.3.8 CancerNo studies were located regarding cancer in humans or animals after dermal exposure to chromiumcompounds.2.3 TOXICOKINETICSOverview.The toxicokinetics of a given chromium compound depend on the valence state of the chromium atomand the nature of its ligands. Naturally occurring chromium compounds are generally in the trivalent state(chromium(III)), while hexavalent chromium compounds (chromium(VI)) are produced industrially bythe oxidation of chromium(III) compounds. Absorption of chromium(VI) compounds is higher than thatof chromium(III) compounds. This is because the chromate anion (CrO 4 ) 2- can enter cells via facilitated