title: Microscopic analysis of chromium accumulation in the bronchi and lung of chromate workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is known that chromium is an inhaled carcinogen and an important risk factor in the development of lung carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors used a microscopic X-ray fluorescence analyzer with transmitted X-ray mapping imaging (Horiba, Kyoto, Japan) to measure the accumulation of chromium in 10 resected lung tissue specimens and 90 biopsy specimens from chromate workers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The maximum chromium accumulation (mean +/- standard deviation) in 10 resected lung tissue specimens was 197 +/- 238 counts per second (cps)/mili ampere (mA) (range, 4-649 cps/mA). Chromium accumulation was scattered in six tissue specimens and diffuse in one specimen. Chromium accumulation in the proximal bronchi was less than in the bronchioles or subpleural regions of the lung. Chromium accumulation was detectable in 63 (70%) of 90 biopsy specimens, and the mean accumulation was 6.5 +/- 9.2 cps/mA (range, 0-46.5 cps/mA). Chromium detected in bronchial tissue specimens was deposited in the bronchial stroma but not in the epithelium. The maximum chromium accumulations in dysplasic (n = 3), squamous metaplastic (n = 10), and normal bronchial epithelia (n = 9) in chromate workers and in normal bronchial epithelia (n = 3) in non-chromate workers were 20.2 +/- 5.4, 18.3 +/- 12.2, 13.2 +/- 13.4, and 3.0 +/- 1.8 cps/mA, respectively. The amount of chromium accumulation significantly increased according to the progression of malignant change of the bronchial epithelium (P = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Previous studies found that lung carcinoma with chromate exposure exhibited a variety of genetic abnormalities. Considering genetic aberrations and chromium accumulation in these premalignant lesions is useful for elucidating the process of carcinogenesis in chromium-induced lung carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncological and Regenerative Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Tokushima, Tokushima, Japan. kondo@clin.med.tokushima-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Sumiyo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishikawa
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uchihara
authors.forename: Yukiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirose
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshizawa
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsuyuguchi
authors.forename: Hiromitsu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takizawa
authors.forename: Takanori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyoshi
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sakiyama
authors.forename: Yasumasa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Monden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001980:Bronchi / Q000737:chemistry*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000209:etiology*; D002840:Chromates / Q000633:toxicity*; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission
chemical_list: D002840:Chromates; D002857:Chromium