OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of low-level long-term occupational exposure to chromate on the health of workers, and the potential biomarkers of early health effects in terms of lung function, immune toxicity and genetic damage. METHODS: A total of 22 chromate contact workers and 44 non-chromate contact workers from an electroplating enterprise with long-term occupational environment monitoring in line with the national standards in Inner Mongolia were investigated. The questionnaire survey was conducted to collect the basic situation, the history of smoking, drinking, diseases and so on. The portable lung function instrument, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus test were performed to measure the chromate contact workers'lung function, whole blood Cr (WB-Cr) and micronuclei frequency (MNF) of peripheral blood lymphocytes respectively. The cytometric bead array was used to detect the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12P70 and TNFα in the serum among the two groups. The effects of chromate exposure on the above-mentioned indexes involved biological exposure, lung function, immune response and genetic damage, and their correlation were analyzed with different statistical methods. RESULTS: (1) the average length of service for chromate contact workers was 31 years, and their concentration of WB-Cr was 1.11-4.19 μg/L. They were divided into high and low exposure groups according to the median of 1.72 μg/L. The WB-Cr in the high exposure group (2.17 μg/L) was higher than that in the low exposure group (1.58 μg/L) as well as the reference value of the healthy population (1.74 μg/L, P<0.05); (2) the lung function test showed 10 (45.45%) chromate exposure workers had single or multiple abnormal lung function indexes, among which large airway injury index PEF, and small airway injury indexes MVV and FEF25%-75% were all negatively correlated with WB-Cr (r=-0.53, P<0.05; r=-0.52, P<0.05; r=-0.44, P<0.05); (3) IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and TNFα in the serum of chromate contact workers were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05), and there was a positive correlation between TNFα and WB-Cr, and among these cytokines (P<0.05); (4) the average lymphocyte MNF in chromate contact workers was 1.341%, higher than the reference value of the general population (0.436%, P<0.01). Poisson regression analysis showed MNF in thehigh exposure group was higher than that in the low exposure group, OR (95%CI) =1.323 (1.049, 1.669); (5) multiple linear regression analysis showed that the lung function index FEF25%-75% decreased with the increase of TNFα (P<0.05), no significant correlation was found between other cytokines, MNF and lung function indexes. CONCLUSION Long-term low-level occupational exposure to chromate can cause the decline of lung function, immune inflammatory reaction and genetic damage in workers, in which local or systemic inflammatory response is associated with decreased lung function. Lung function indexes PEF, FEF25%-75% and MVV, serum cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα, and peripheral blood lymphocyte MNF may be used as early health effects biomarkers of chromate exposure.
Biomarkers ; China ; Chromates ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Smoking

Acute Disease ; Chromates ; poisoning ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Diseases ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore and provide the possible biological limit of urinary chromium for population occupationally exposure to soluble chromate, as to providing scientific evidences for health monitoring and risk assessment.

METHODSA cross-sectional study was conducted. The studied population contained 83 workers from different processes of the chromate plant, in addition, 10 farmers without exposure to chromate matched with exposed subjects by age, gender and smoking status were identified as a control group. The air chromium concentration for personal exposure during 8-hours shift and the urinary chromium concentration post-shift were determined and their relationship was analyzed statistically. Meanwhile, the literatures of the biological limit of urinary chromium for occupational exposure to soluble chromate were studied.

RESULTSFor the control group, the air chromium concentration had a range from 0.00 microg/m(3) to 0.08 microg/m(3) and the urinary chromium concentration from 0.40 microg/g Cre to 1.02 microg/g Cre. For the exposure group, the air chromium concentration was from 0.10 microg/m(3) to 287.00 microg/m(3) and the urinary chromium concentration was from 1.14 microg/g Cre to 79.07 microg/g Cre. The positive relationship existed in between air chromium concentration and urinary concentration. The urinary chromium concentration was increased depending on the chromate exposed level. The regress equation was that Urinary chromium concentration (microg/g Cre) = 4.16 + 236.86 x air concentration for chromate (mg/m(3)), r = 0.976. The recommendation of ACGIH (USA, 2004) was 65.1 micromol/mol Cre (30 microg/g Cre) with the same TLV-TWA of 0.05 mg/m(3) as our National standard about the air chromate concentration.

CONCLUSIONOur findings suggested that the post-shift urinary chromium concentration might be used as an exposed biomarker for chromate. Considering the recommendation of ACGIH (USA, 2004) and the feasibility of the standard performed, we suggest that the biological threshold limit of urinary chromium for occupational exposure to soluble chromate in China should be 65.1 micromol/mol Cre (30 microg/g Cre) (post-shift urine for consecutive 5 work days.).

Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Chromates ; Chromium ; urine ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Threshold Limit Values

Acute Kidney Injury ; etiology ; Adult ; Burns, Chemical ; complications ; surgery ; Chromates ; toxicity ; Humans ; Male ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThe health surveillance proposal for chromate exposed workers was provided and analyzed on the evidence-based study and then to be improved.

METHODFirstly, the related literatures were searched about liver damage, micronuclei, urinary chromium and hexavalent chromium exposure in Evidence Based Medicine Reviews such as Cochran library, OVID Medline, Web of knowledge in December 2011; and then, these literatures were reviewed in according to inclusion and exclusion criteria; 22 articles totally were retrieved, evaluated and classified in according to the grading standard by Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine.Finally, field epidemiological investigation was further adopted to confirm the efficiency and feasibility of this proposal, combined with cost-effectiveness analysis:the ratio of total cost divided survival years was used to express the cost-effectiveness.

RESULTOnly the glutamic pyruvic transaminase test could not reflect liver damage caused by chromate exposure well; Urinary chromium correlated well with the index reflecting body damage caused by chromate exposure; Binucleated cells micronucleus index in peripheral blood lymphocyte could reflect the genetic damage caused by chromate exposure. As for health economic evaluation of chromate lung cancer, the value of cost/effectiveness was ¥42 321.61 per year that was far below the value of common people (¥252 868.97 per year) .

CONCLUSIONIt was suggested that serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase test should be replaced by liver function test, urinary chromium should be classified as a compulsory index and binucleated cells micronucleus index in peripheral blood lymphocyte should be supplied as a recommended index.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Chromates ; urine ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Micronucleus Tests ; Occupational Exposure ; Population Surveillance

Soluble compounds of chromium are widely used in industrial processes, including printing, photography, pyrotechnics, dyeing, electroplating, aircraft, shipbuilding, and leather tanning. Exposure in industry is generally via the inhalation of dusts and fumes. Ingestion of chromium (chromate or dichromate salt) has occurred accidentally in suicide attempts and during drug experimentation and may causes ulceration of the bowel, diarrhea, hemorrhagic diathesis, acute renal failure, and hepatic damage. Ingestion of hexavalent chromium com-pounds is considered to be one hundred times more toxic than the trivalent compounds. Chromium poisoning in children is an uncommon, potentially lethal form of poisoning which could possibly increase in incidence because of the resumed greater domestic distribution of dichromate in Korea. We report a case of ammonium dichromate inges-tion by a child that resulted in a healthy discharge.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Aircraft ; Ammonium Compounds* ; Child ; Chromates ; Chromium ; Diarrhea ; Dust ; Eating ; Electroplating ; Hemorrhagic Disorders ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inhalation ; Korea ; Photography ; Poisoning* ; Suicide ; Tanning ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl ; Ulcer

Chromic acid is a strong metal acid and acute poisoning is very rare. However, chromic acid causes serious complications, such as skin injuries, as well as renal and hepatic failure. We report on a case of a 47-year-old male who accidentally had chromic acid spilled over his nose and face. For the first few days, he was treated with ascorbic acid and massive hydration. However, after three days, his condition began to worsen. He was treated with hemodialysis for anuria and acute renal failure, and antibiotics for pneumonia. On day 10 of hospitalization, he expired of multi-organ failure. We suggest firm control and close supervision of chromic acid in the work place, and, considering severe complications of chromic acid, we propose a nearly and aggressive treatment.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anuria ; Ascorbic Acid ; Chromates ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hypogonadism ; Liver Failure ; Male ; Mitochondrial Diseases ; Nose ; Ophthalmoplegia ; Organization and Administration ; Pneumonia ; Renal Dialysis ; Skin ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo explore the biological effective markers, we investigated DNA strand breaks in peripheral lymphocytes from occupational population with broad ranges of soluble chromate exposure.

METHODSWe conducted a cross-sectional study in the chromate exposed workers employed at a chromate factory in a district of Jinan, Shandong Province. The studied population contained 114 workers from different processes of the chromate plants, in addition, 30 farmers in the countryside about one hundred kilometers away from the factory, without exposure to chromate were matched with the exposed subjects by age, gender and smoking status being identified as a control group. Personal information on age, chromate exposure, medical history (including acute infection and medicine usage), smoking habit and alcohol consumption was obtained by questionnaire. DNA strand breaks in lymphocytes were detected by single-cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay) and the DNA damaged degree was evaluated by the score weighted by comet type. The air concentration of chromate was determined by individual sampling for 8 hours per day as shift work and chromium was assayed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The chromium content in the erythrocytes from peripheral blood was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The data were analyzed by SPSS10.0 software for statistical significance.

RESULTS(1) The results showed that the score for DNA strand breaks in lymphocytes were 54.52 +/- 23.51 in the exposed group, which was significantly higher than those in the control group (24.70 +/- 11.84) (P < 0.01). (2) The degree of DNA strand breaks in lymphocytes was increased in a dose-dependent manner ranging from 0 microg/m(3) to 106.00 microg/m(3). (3) Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between airborne chromate concentration and the degree of DNA strand break in lymphocytes (P < 0.01). (4) By multiple regression analysis, it was found that the airborne concentrations, chromium contents in red blood cells and smoking habits were factors which might affect the degree of DNA breaks.

CONCLUSIONOur findings suggest that DNA strand break in lymphocytes should be an effective biomarker for occupational chromate-exposed population and be applied in biological monitoring and health risk assessment for occupational chromate-exposed population.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Causality ; Chromates ; analysis ; Chromium ; blood ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; Smoking ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo explore biological exposure markers, we investigated the chromium content in peripheral erythrocytes from occupational population with broad ranges of soluble chromate exposure, as the candidate biomarker may provide the scientific evidence for health risk assessment in occupational chromate-exposed population.

METHODSA cross-sectional study was conducted in chromate exposed workers employed at a chromate factory in a district of Jinan city, Shandong Province. The studied population contained 114 workers from different processes of the chromate plants, which included 74 males and 40 females, with an age range from 25 to 52 years old, averaging at (35.83 +/- 6.14) years old; the length of service was ranging from 1 year to 37 years, an average of (14.20 +/- 6.77) years. In addition, 30 farmers in the countryside one hundred kilometers away from the factory, without exposure to chromate matched with exposed subjects by age, gender and smoking status were identified as a control group, which included 22 men and 8 women, with age ranging from 25 years old to 47 years old, having an average age of (36.13 +/- 6.17) years old. Personal information on age, chromate exposure, medical history, smoking habit and alcohol consumption was obtained at an interview. The air concentration of personal exposure was determined by individual sampling for 8 hours per day as shift work, and chromium was assayed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The chromium content in the erythrocytes from peripheral blood was determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. The potential plasma reduction capacity was determined by dibenzene anthracoamid dihydrazide spectrophotometry. The content of total vitamin C and reductive ascorbic acid were determined by 2, 4-dinitrobenzene hydrazine. The data were analyzed by SPSS10.0 software for statistical significance.

RESULTS(1) The results showed that the chromium levels in erythrocytes in the exposed group [(15.79 +/- 31.01) microg/L] were significantly higher than those in the control group [(3.21 +/- 2.20) microg/L] (P < 0.01). (2) There existed a dose-response relationship between the personal airborne chromate concentration and the chromium content in erythrocytes. As airborne chromate concentration lowered to 106.00 microg/m(3), the chromium content in erythrocytes increased, depending on the air concentration of chromate. (3) Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between airborne chromate concentration and the chromium content in erythrocytes (P < 0.01). (4) In multiple regression analysis, it was found that the potential plasma reduction capacity and reductive ascorbic acid may be a good indicator for oxidative stress produced by chromate exposure and be used to evaluate the effects on intracellular uptake of chromium (VI).

CONCLUSIONOur findings suggested that the chromium content in erythrocytes should be used as an effective exposed biomarker in the risk assessment for occupational chromate-exposure.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Chromates ; analysis ; Chromium ; blood ; Erythrocytes ; chemistry ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; analysis

To elucidate some DNA adducts as a biological marker for workers of chromate pigment, the effects of chromium exposure on the formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine(8-OH-dG) and sister chromatid exchanges(SCEs) frequency in 38 workers of a pigment plant in Bucheon which utilized lead chromates, were examined. The chromium contents of venous blood and urine were measured as working environmental exposure level. The concentrations of 8-OH-dG in DNA isolated from lymphocytes were determined with high performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detector and denoted as a molar ratio of 8-OH-dG to deoxyguanosine(dG). The SCEs frequency were analyzed in DNA isolated from lymphocytes. A significant correlation was found between creatinine adjusted urine chromium concentration and the molar ratio of 8-OH-dG to dG(r=0.47, p<0.01). After adjusting the current smoking habit, the correlation coefficient was increased(r=0.62, p<0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between the SCE frequency and chromium exposure. This significant results between molar ratio of 8-OH-dG to dG and chromium exposure are in good agreement with in vitro studies that support the importance of DNA adduct formation for the carcinogenic effect of chromium.
Biomarkers ; Chromates ; Chromatids ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Chromium* ; Creatinine ; DNA ; DNA Adducts ; Environmental Exposure ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Molar ; Plants ; Siblings* ; Sister Chromatid Exchange* ; Smoke ; Smoking