Increased incidence of chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges in workers exposed to chromic acid (CrO3) in electroplating factories.

Chromosomal aberrations in cultured lymphocytes obtained from workers occupationally exposed to chromic acid (CrO3) were detected. Four separate groups of workers were examined, two of which were engaged in plating factories employing nickel in addition to chromium, and two coming from plating factories where only chromium was used. In the latter groups the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) were also detected in the cultured lymphocytes. A statistically significant increase of chromosomal aberrations, mostly of the chromosome-type, was found in two of the exposed groups of workers compared to the level observed in control donors. The frequency of SCEs in the exposed groups was higher than in controls, particularly in the factor which employed the younger workers. Besides the negative correlation with the age of workers, a positive correlation between the frequency of SCEs and the level of urinary chromium was found and such a correlation was strongly enchanced by smoking. The present data support the view that CrO3, like other soluble hexavalent chromium compounds, is genetically active in vivo.