TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR CHROMIUM - Davidborowski.com

CHROMIUM 1852. HEALTH EFFECTSduring a 3-month period after exposure (Meyers 1950). Decreased body weight gain was observed in ratsexposed by inhalation to sodium dichromate for intermediate durations (Glaser et al. 1990), in female ratsorally exposed to potassium chromate for 20 days or 3 months (Kanojia et al. 1996, 1998), in male ratsorally exposed to potassium dichromate or chromium chloride for 12 weeks (Bataineh et al. 1997;Elbetieha and Al-Hamood 1997) in pregnant mice orally exposed to potassium dichromate duringgestation (Junaid et al. 1996b; Trivedi et al. 1989), and in male rats treated with sodium dichromate bygavage for 90 days (Chowdhury and Mitra 1995).Immunological and Lymphoreticular Effects. Chromium and its compounds cause sensitizationthat can result in asthma and dermatitis. Based on numerous reports in the literature, the prevalence of thechromium sensitivity in the general U.S. population has been conservatively estimated at 1.6%(Paustenbach et al. 1992). A more recent estimate of 0.08% was reported for chromium(VI) sensitivity(Proctor et al. 1998). The sensitivity to chromium(VI) compounds is greater than the sensitivity tochromium(III) compounds (Levin et al. 1959; Peltonen and Fraki 1983; Samitz and Schrager 1966).However, chromium(III) compounds are also allergens if the exposure concentration is high enough(Fregert and Rorsman 1964, 1966; Mali et al. 1966). The greater sensitivity to chromium(VI) may be dueto the greater ability of chromium(VI) compounds to be absorbed. Asthmatic attacks have occurred inchromium-sensitive individuals exposed by inhalation in occupational settings to chromium trioxidevapors and chromium fumes from stainless steel welding (Keskinen et al. 1980; Moller et al. 1986).When challenged with sodium chromate or potassium dichromate via nebulizer, chromium-sensitivepatients displayed anaphylactoid reactions, characterized by dermatitis, facial angioedema and erythema,nasopharyngeal pruritus, cough, wheezing, bronchospasms, increased plasma histamine levels, urticaria,and decreased forced expiratory volume (Moller et al. 1986; Olguibel and Basomba 1989). Whilechromium-induced asthma might occur in some sensitized individuals exposed to elevated concentrationsof chromium in air, the number of sensitized individuals is low, and the number of potentially confoundingvariables in the chromium industry is high. Oral doses of potassium dichromate exacerbated thedermatitis of sensitive individuals (Goitre et al. 1982; Kaaber and Veien 1977).Direct skin contact with chromium compounds may elicit an allergic response, characterized by eczemaand dermatitis, in sensitized individuals. Exposure to chromium compounds in chromium-relatedoccupations appears to be the major cause of chromium contact dermatitis. Patch testing has identifiedchromium sensitized workers in the printing and lithography industry (Levin et al. 1959; Samitz andSchrager 1966), in automobile factories where assemblers handled nuts, bolts, and screws (Newhouse1963) in wet sandpapering of primer paint were exposed to zinc chromate (Engel and Calnan 1963), in