title: Chromium: a review of environmental and occupational toxicology.
abstract: The following topics are covered in this brief review on the environmental and occupational toxicology of chromium: occurrence, production and uses of chromium and chromium compounds; experimental toxicology; chromium toxicity for man; hygienic and ecologic aspects of chromium contamination of the environment. The review provides a conclusive evidence which suggests that chromium, especially its hexavalent form, is both toxic and carcinogenic, but its trivalent form is physiologically essential in the metabolism of insulin. It is also emphasized that among the major sources of environmental chromium today are the cement industry and the increasingly widespread use of chromium compounds added as an anticorrosion admixture to a variety of cooling systems, e.g. in large power plants, which may greatly contribute to the overall pollution of outdoor air at the sites.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bencko
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D002857:Chromium / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D009783:Dermatitis, Occupational / Q000139:chemically induced; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004391:Dust / Q000009:adverse effects; D004463:Ecology; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000633:toxicity*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D009153:Mutagens; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009153:Mutagens; D002857:Chromium