HBM4EU Chromates Study: Determinants of Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium in Plating, Welding and Other Occupational Settings

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

HBM4EU Chromates Study Team¹  Jelle Verdonck²  Lode Godderis²  Katrien Poels²  Radu Corneliu Duca³  An van Nieuwenhuyse³  Flavia Ruggieri⁴  Beatrice Bocca⁴  Veruscka Leso⁵  Ivo Iavicoli⁵  Tiina Santonen⁶  Simo P. Porras⁶  Sophie Ndaw⁷  Radia Bousoumah⁷  Kate Jones⁸  Elizabeth Leese⁸  Karen S. Galea⁹  Maria João Silva^1,10  Wojciech Wasowicz^1,11  Beata Janasik^1,11  Carla Martins^1,12  Susana Viegas^1,12  Paul T. J. Scheepers^1,13 

[1] ;Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), O&N 5b, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium;Department Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), 1, Rue Louis Rech, 3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg;Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy;Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy;Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, 00250 Helsinki, Finland;French National Research and Safety Institute, 54500 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France;Health & Safety Executive, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9JN, UK;Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK;Lisbon and ToxOmics—Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health, Department of Human Genetics, NOVA Medical School, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal;Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 91-348 Lodz, Poland;Public Health Research Centre, NOVA National School of Public Health, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal;Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboudumc, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands;

关键词: hexavalent chromium;    exposure determinants;    risk management measures;    occupational hygiene;    biomonitoring;    air monitoring;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph19063683

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Work-related exposures in industrial processing of chromate (chrome plating, surface treatment and welding) raise concern regarding the health risk of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). In this study, performed under the HBM4EU project, we focused on better understanding the determinants of exposure and recognising how risk management measures (RMMs) contribute to a reduction in exposure. HBM and occupational hygiene data were collected from 399 workers and 203 controls recruited in nine European countries. Urinary total chromium (U-Cr), personal inhalable and respirable dust of Cr and Cr(VI) and Cr from hand wipes were collected. Data on the RMMs were collected by questionnaires. We studied the association between different exposure parameters and the use of RMMs. The relationship between exposure by inhalation and U-Cr in different worker groups was analysed using regression analysis and found a strong association. Automatisation of Cr electroplating dipping explained lower exposure levels in platers. The use of personal protective equipment resulted in lower U-Cr levels in welding, bath plating and painting. An effect of wearing gloves was observed in machining. An effect of local exhaust ventilation and training was observed in welding. Regression analyses showed that in platers, exposure to air level of 5 µg/m³ corresponds to U-Cr level of 7 µg/g creatinine. In welders, the same inhalation exposure resulted in lower U-Cr levels reflecting toxicokinetic differences of different chromium species.

【 授权许可】

Unknown