REVIEW PAPER
Occupational exposure to chromium(VI) compounds
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1
Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy / Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute, Warszawa, Poland
(Zakład Zagrożeń Chemicznych, Pyłowych i Biologicznych, Pracownia Toksykologii / Department of Chemical Hazards, Aerosol and Biological Hazards, Laboratory of Toxicology)
2
Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. J. Nofera / Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Łódź, Poland
(Zakład Bezpieczeństwa Chemicznego / Department of Chemical Safety)
Corresponding author
Jolanta Skowroń
Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy, Zakład Zagrożeń Chemicznych, Pyłowych i Biologicznych,
Pracownia Toksykologii, ul. Czerniakowska 16, 00-701 Warszawa
Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2015;66(3):407-27
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ABSTRACT
This article discusses the effect of chromium(VI) (Cr(VI)) on human health under conditions of acute and chronic exposure in
the workplace. Chromium(VI) compounds as carcinogens and/or mutagens pose a direct danger to people exposed to them.
If carcinogens cannot be eliminated from the work and living environments, their exposure should be reduced to a minimum.
In the European Union the proposed binding occupational exposure limit value (BOELV) for chromium(VI) of 0.025 mg/m³
is still associated with high cancer risk. Based on the Scientific Commitee of Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL) document
chromium(VI) concentrations at 0.025 mg/m³ increases the risk of lung cancer in 2–14 cases per 1000 exposed workers. Exposure
to chromium(VI) compounds expressed in Cr(VI) of 0.01 mg Cr(VI)/m3 is responsible for the increased number of lung cancer
cases in 1–6 per 1000 people employed in this condition for the whole period of professional activity. Med Pr 2015;66(3):407–427