title: Establishment of a reference value for chromium in the blood for biological monitoring among occupational chromium workers.
abstract: The concentration of chromium in the blood (CrB) has been confirmed as a biomarker for occupational chromium exposure, but its biological exposure indices (BEIs) are still unclear, so we collected data from the years 2006 and 2008 (Shandong Province, China) to analyze the relationship between the concentration of chromium in the air (CrA) of the workplaces and CrB to establish a reference value of CrB for biological monitoring of occupational workers. The levels of the indicators for nasal injury, kidney (β2 microglobulin (β2-MG)), and genetic damages (8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and micronucleus (MN)) were measured in all subjects of the year 2011 (Henan Province, China) to verify the protective effect in this reference value of CrB. Compared with the control groups, the concentrations of CrA and CrB in chromium exposed groups were significantly higher (P < 0.05). Positive correlations were found between CrA and CrB in chromium exposed groups (r 2006 = 0.60, r 2008 = 0.35) in the years 2006 and 2008. According to the occupational exposure limitation of CrA (50 μg/m(3), China), the reference value of CrB was recommended to 20 μg/L. The levels of nasal injury, β2-MG, 8-OhdG, and MN were not significantly different between the low chromium exposed group (CrB ≤ 20 μg/L) and the control group, while the levels of β2-MG, 8-OHdG, and MN were statistically different in the high chromium exposed group than that in the control group. This research proved that only in occupational workers, CrB could be used as a biomarker to show chromium exposure in the environment. The recommended reference value of CrB was 20 μg/L.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Shandong Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jinan City, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Henan Institute of Occupational Disease Prevention, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shan-Fa
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine, Chifeng City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Liang
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China jiaguangjia@bjmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D002857:Chromium / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D002857:Chromium
keywords: Chromium; chromium in the air; chromium in the blood; occupational exposure limitation; reference value