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

Susana Viegas, Carla Martins, Beatrice Bocca, Radia Bousoumah, Radu Corneliu Duca, Karen S. Galea, Lode Godderis, Ivo Iavicoli, Beata Janasik, Kate Jones, Elizabeth Leese, Veruscka Leso, Sophie Ndaw, An van Nieuwenhuyse, Katrien Poels, Simo P. Porras, Flavia Ruggieri, Maria João Silva, Jelle Verdonck, Wojciech Wasowicz, Paul T. J. Scheepers, Tiina Santonen and Chromates Study Team Hbm4eu
Additional contact information
Susana Viegas: Public Health Research Centre, NOVA National School of Public Health, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal
Carla Martins: Public Health Research Centre, NOVA National School of Public Health, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal
Beatrice Bocca: Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
Radia Bousoumah: French National Research and Safety Institute, 54500 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France
Radu Corneliu Duca: Department Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), 1, Rue Louis Rech, 3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg
Karen S. Galea: Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK
Lode Godderis: 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
Ivo Iavicoli: Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
Beata Janasik: Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 91-348 Lodz, Poland
Kate Jones: Health & Safety Executive, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9JN, UK
Elizabeth Leese: Health & Safety Executive, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9JN, UK
Veruscka Leso: Department of Public Health, University of Naples Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
Sophie Ndaw: French National Research and Safety Institute, 54500 Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy, France
An van Nieuwenhuyse: Department Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), 1, Rue Louis Rech, 3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg
Katrien Poels: 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
Simo P. Porras: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, 00250 Helsinki, Finland
Flavia Ruggieri: Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
Maria João Silva: 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
Jelle Verdonck: 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
Wojciech Wasowicz: Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 91-348 Lodz, Poland
Paul T. J. Scheepers: Radboud Institute for Health Sciences, Radboudumc, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Tiina Santonen: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, 00250 Helsinki, Finland
Chromates Study Team Hbm4eu: A complete list of the members of the HBM4EU Chromates Study is provided in Appendix A.

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 6, 1-25

Abstract: 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/m 3 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.

Keywords: hexavalent chromium; exposure determinants; risk management measures; occupational hygiene; biomonitoring; air monitoring; dermal exposure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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