Chromium health effects

Health Effects Assessment for Hexavalent Chromium, EPA/540/1-86-019, United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Sept. 1984 Toxicological Profile for Chromium, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ASTDR), ASTDR/TP-88/10,1989. 

Again, the waste treatment scenario with incineration has by far to the highest score for human toxicity. The scores for the other scenarios are more or less the same. The incineration of EoL PVC will lead to toxic emissions of metals (arsenic, lead, chromium, see Table 5) causing human health effects. However, the most important contribution to the human health effect is caused by the emission of mercury in the upchain processes of the production of mercury and sodium hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide is an auxiliary material in the waste incineration process. Mercury... 

Nieboer, E. and A. Yassi. 1988. Other health effects of chromium compounds. Pages 533-550 in J.O. Nriagu and E. Nieboer (eds.). Chromium in the Natural and Human Environments. John Wiley, NY. 

The popular movie Erin Brockovich, although focusing on the power industry, is an example of how the popular media can simplify the public s perception of chemical exposure. In Erin Brockovich the chemical of concern was hexavalent chromium, Cr +. Hexavalent chromium is listed as a carcinogen by EPA, but complicated questions dealing with exposure (drinking, inhalation, absorption through skin), toxicity levels, and specific health effects were lost in Hollywood s version. 

As indicated in Table 7.6, all hazardous chemicals in electric arc furnace dust are assumed to induce deterministic responses. The possible responses include renal toxicity, effects on the cardiovascular system, dermal or ocular effects, decrease in body weight, hepatic toxicity, and respiratory toxicity. Decrease in body weight is not a response in a particular organ but is assumed to be a health effect of concern. All deterministic responses are assumed to be induced by more than one chemical in the waste. Furthermore, some of the chemicals (barium, beryllium, chromium, and lead) are assumed to induce all responses. 

The health effects resulting from exposure to chromium(III) and chromium(VI) are fairly well described in the literature. In general, chromium(VI) is more toxic than chromium (III). 

For more information on the health effects of chromium, please see Chapter 2. 

However, since chromium(III) is an essential nutrient, low levels of chromium are normally found in body tissues and urine. Tests for chromium exposure are most useful for people exposed to high levels. These tests cannot determine the exact levels of chromium you may have been exposed to or predict whether or not health effects will occur. High chromium levels in the urine and red blood cells indicate exposure to chromium(VT) or chromium(III) compounds. 

Estimates of exposure levels posing minimal risk to humans (Minimal Risk Levels or MRLs) have been made for chromium. An MRL is defined as an estimate of daily human exposure to a substance that is likely to be without an appreciable risk of adverse effects (noncarcinogenic) over a specified duration of exposure. MRLs are derived when reliable and sufficient data exist to identify the target organ(s) of effect or the most sensitive health effect(s) for a specific duration within a given route of exposure. 

Due to the extremely high boiling point of chromium, gaseous chromium is rarely encountered. Rather, chromium in the environment occurs as particle-bound chromium or chromium dissolved in droplets. As discussed in this section, chromium(VI) trioxide (chromic acid) and soluble chromium(VI) salt aerosols may produce different health effects than insoluble particulate compounds. For example, exposure to chromium(VI) trioxide results in marked damage to the nasal mucosa and perforation of the nasal septum, whereas exposure to insoluble(VI) compounds results in damage to the lower respiratory tract. 

No studies were located regarding the following health effects in humans or animals after dermal exposure to chromium compounds ... 

A number of additional health effects have been observed in adults exposed to chromium (primarily chromium(VI)) at work. The primary targets appear to be the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract, hematological system, liver, and kidneys an increased cancer risk has also been observed. Dermal contact in chromium sensitized individuals can lead to an allergic type dermatitis. In the absence of data to the contrary, it is likely that these organs/systems will also be sensitive targets in children. There is insufficient information to determine whether the susceptibility of children would differ from that of adults. 

Section 104(i)(5) of CERCLA, as amended, directs the Administrator of ATSDR (in consultation with the Administrator of EPA and agencies and programs of the Public Health Service) to assess whether adequate information on the health effects of chromium is available. Where adequate information is not available, ATSDR, in conjunction with the National Toxicology Program (NTP), is required to assure the initiation of a program of research designed to determine the health effects (and techniques for developing methods to determine such health effects) of chromium. 

Figure 2-7. Existing Information on Health Effects of Chromium(VI)...

In addition to the information on chromium(VI) and chromium(in), limited information is available regarding health effects of chromium(O) and chromium(IV) (not included in Figures 2-7 and 2-8). 

Reliable monitoring data for the levels of chromium in contaminated media at hazardous waste sites are needed so that the information obtained on levels of chromium in the environment can be used in combination with the known body burdens of chromium to assess the potential risk of adverse health effects in populations living in the vicinity of hazardous waste sites. 

These methods have detection limits in the ng/m3 range with excellent recoveries (90% or better). These methods are sufficient to determine background chromium levels in the environment and levels at which health effects may occur. Chromium can be detected in water at concentrations in the ppb range (EPA 1983, 1996a Harzdorf and Janser 1984) with recoveries of 90% or greater being reported. 

EPA. 1984c. Health effects assessment for hexavalent chromium. Report to Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency by Environmental Criteria and Assessment Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH. ECA0-CIN-H019. 

Maruyama Y. 1982. The health effect of mice given oral administration of trivalent and hexavalent chromium over a long-term. Acta Scholae Medicinalis Universitatis in Gifu 31 24-46. 

Toxicity and health effects Occupational exposure to chromium through inhalation occurs more with stainless steel welding, chromate production, chrome plating, and chrome pigment industries, primarily to hexavalent chromium. Chromium (HI) is an essential nutrient that helps the body use... 

The objective of this chapter is to put into perspective some of the current knowledge with respect to trace metals and their health implications. Potential adverse health effects of occupational exposures to trace metals are dis cussed cancer (arsenic, beryllium chromium nickel, and perhaps cadmium) chronic lung disease (beryllium and cadmium) neurologic and reproductive disorders (lead and mercury) and kidney disorders (lead and cadmium). Also discussed are the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended standards for occupational exposure to several trace metals, the difficulty of establishing safe levels of exposure (particularly for carcinogens), and problems involved in identifying toxic components of trade name products. Special attention is given to the role of chemists to help protect the public health. 

Chromium is an element with two faces, as far as health effects are concerned. Small amounts of chromium are essential for the health of plants and animals. In humans, a chromium deficiency leads to diabetes-like symptoms. Diabetes is a disease that develops when the body does not use sugar properly. Chromium seems to play a role in helping the body use sugar. 

Chromium may cause adverse health effects following inhalation, ingestion, or dermal exposure. The toxicity of chromium is mainly caused by hexavalent compounds as a result of a higher cellular uptake of chromium(VI) compounds than chromium(III). This is explained by the fact that the chromate anion (Cr04) can enter the cells via facilitated diffusion through nonspecific anion channels (similarly to phosphate and sulfate anions). Absorption of chro-mium(III) compounds is via passive diffusion and phagocytosis. 

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