Chromium in biological samples from low-level exposed stainless steel and mild steel welders

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Archives of Environmental Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1991.9937453· OSTI ID:5317761

Bonde, J P; Christensen, J M ^[1]

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1. Department of Occupational Medicine, Hospital of Aalborg (Denmark)

Occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium is of concern because of the carcinogenic action of this metal. The purpose of this study was to evaluate internal exposure to chromium in welders who were exposed to low levels of chromium. Chromium in urine, blood, and seminal fluid was determined among 60 welders and 45 referents. The concentration of chromium in urine and blood did not change across a workshift or across a 3-wk break in exposure. However, stainless-steel and mild-steel welders who were exposed to low levels of chromium and steel welders who were mildly exposed had significantly increased levels of chromium in post-shift urine (mean 2.1 nmol/mmol creatinine (standard deviation (SD) = 1.0) and 1.3 nmol/mmol creatinine (SD = 0.5), respectively) compared with referents (mean 0.7 nmol/mmol creatinine (SD = 0.3)). Pre-shift blood chromium concentrations showed a similar variation between exposed workers and referents. Subgroups of stainless-steel welders had very high levels of chromium in seminal fluid. This finding may, however, be explained by nonoccupational factors and, therefore, warrants further study. Attention should focus on the potential risk of delayed health effects among stainless-steel and mild-steel welders who heretofore were not thought to be at risk from chromium exposure.

• OSTI ID: 5317761
• Journal Information: Archives of Environmental Health; (United States), Journal Name: Archives of Environmental Health; (United States) Vol. 46:4; ISSN 0003-9896; ISSN AEHLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALLOYS
AZOLES
CHROMIUM
CREATININE
ELEMENTS
FABRICATION
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HIGH ALLOY STEELS
IMIDAZOLES
IMINES
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
JOINING
METABOLISM
METALS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
RISK ASSESSMENT
STAINLESS STEELS
STEELS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
WELDING