TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR CHROMIUM - Davidborowski.com

CHROMIUM 522. HEALTH EFFECTSAn extensive epidemiological survey was conducted of housewives who lived in an area of Tokyo, Japan,in which contamination from chromium slag at a construction site was discovered in 1973. Thehousewives included in the study were those who lived in the area from 1978 to 1988, and controlsincluded housewives who lived in uncontaminated areas. Questionnaires, physical examinations, andclinical tests were conducted annually. Higher incidences of subjective complaints of headache,tiredness, and light headedness were reported by the exposed population than the control population in theearly years of the survey, but in later years the difference between the two groups became progressivelyless (Greater Tokyo Bureau of Hygiene 1989).No information was located regarding neurological effects in humans or animals after inhalation exposureto chromium(III) compounds or in animals after inhalation exposure to chromium(VI) compounds. Nohistopathological lesions were found in the brain, spinal cord, or nerve tissues of rats exposed to 15.5 mgchromium(IV)/m 3 as chromium dioxide for 2 years (Lee et al. 1989). No neurological or behavioral testswere conducted.2.2.1.5 Reproductive EffectsInformation regarding reproductive effects in humans after inhalation to chromium compounds is limited.The effect of chromium(VI) on the course of pregnancy and childbirth was studied in women employeesat a dichromate manufacturing facility in Russia. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth (notfurther described) were reported in 20 of 26 exposed women who had high levels of chromium in bloodand urine, compared with 6 of 20 women in the control group. Toxicosis (not further described) wasreported in 12 exposed women and 4 controls. Postnatal hemorrhage occurred in four exposed and twocontrol women (Shmitova 1980). Similar results were reported in a more extensive study of 407 womenwho worked at a factory producing chromium compounds (not otherwise specified) compared with 323controls. The frequency of birth complications was 71.4% in a subgroup of highly exposed women,77.4% in a subgroup of women with a lower level of exposure, and 44.2% in controls. Toxicosis in thefirst half of pregnancy occurred in 35.1% of the high exposure group, 33.3% of the low exposure group,and 13.6% of the controls. The frequency of post-natal hemorrhage was 19.0% for the high exposuregroup and 5.2% in controls (Shmitova 1978). Because these studies were generally of poor quality andresults were poorly reported, no conclusions can be made regarding the potential for chromium toproduce reproductive effects in humans.