Hexavalent chromium still a concern in Sweden: evidence from a cross-sectional study within the safechrom projectUmeå universitet, Medicinska fakulteten, Institutionen för folkhälsa och klinisk medicin, Avdelningen för hållbar hälsa.
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden.
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Faculty of Business, Science and Engineering, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Örebro University Hospital, Region Örebro County, Sweden.
National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine Center in Linköping, Department of Health, Medicine and Caring Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Umeå universitet, Medicinska fakulteten, Institutionen för folkhälsa och klinisk medicin, Avdelningen för hållbar hälsa.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Örebro University Hospital, Region Örebro County, Sweden.
National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden.
National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden.
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Skåne, Lund, Sweden.
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2024 (Engelska)Ingår i: International journal of hygiene and environmental health, ISSN 1438-4639, E-ISSN 1618-131X, Vol. 256, artikel-id 114298Artikel i tidskrift (Refereegranskat) Published
Abstract [en]
Objectives: Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is classified as a human carcinogen. Occupational Cr(VI) exposure can occur during different work processes, but the current exposure to Cr(VI) at Swedish workplaces is unknown.
Methods: This cross-sectional study (SafeChrom) recruited non-smoking men and women from 14 companies with potential Cr(VI) exposure (n = 113) and controls from 6 companies without Cr(VI) exposure (n = 72). Inhalable Cr(VI) was measured by personal air sampling (outside of respiratory protection) in exposed workers. Total Cr was measured in urine (pre- and post-shift, density-adjusted) and red blood cells (RBC) (reflecting Cr(VI)) in exposed workers and controls. The Bayesian tool Expostats was used to assess risk and evaluate occupational exposure limit (OEL) compliance.
Results: The exposed workers performed processing of metal products, steel production, welding, plating, and various chemical processes. The geometric mean concentration of inhalable Cr(VI) in exposed workers was 0.15 μg/m3 (95% confidence interval: 0.11–0.21). Eight of the 113 exposed workers (7%) exceeded the Swedish OEL of 5 μg/m3, and the Bayesian analysis estimated the share of OEL exceedances up to 19.6% for stainless steel welders. Median post-shift urinary (0.60 μg/L, 5th-95th percentile 0.10–3.20) and RBC concentrations (0.73 μg/L, 0.51–2.33) of Cr were significantly higher in the exposed group compared with the controls (urinary 0.10 μg/L, 0.06–0.56 and RBC 0.53 μg/L, 0.42–0.72). Inhalable Cr(VI) correlated with urinary Cr (rS = 0.64) and RBC-Cr (rS = 0.53). Workers within steel production showed the highest concentrations of inhalable, urinary and RBC Cr. Workers with inferred non-acceptable local exhaustion ventilation showed significantly higher inhalable Cr(VI), urinary and RBC Cr concentrations compared with those with inferred acceptable ventilation. Furthermore, workers with inferred correct use of respiratory protection were exposed to significantly higher concentrations of Cr(VI) in air and had higher levels of Cr in urine and RBC than those assessed with incorrect or no use. Based on the Swedish job-exposure-matrix, approximately 17 900 workers were estimated to be occupationally exposed to Cr(VI) today.
Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that some workers in Sweden are exposed to high levels of the non-threshold carcinogen Cr(VI). Employers and workers seem aware of Cr(VI) exposure, but more efficient exposure control strategies are required. National strategies aligned with the European strategies are needed in order to eliminate this cause of occupational cancer.
Ort, förlag, år, upplaga, sidor
Elsevier, 2024. Vol. 256, artikel-id 114298
Nyckelord [en]
Biomonitoring, Hexavalent chromium, Inhalable, Occupational cancer, Occupational exposure limits
Nationell ämneskategori
Arbetsmedicin och miljömedicin
Identifikatorer
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-218305DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114298Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85179081515OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-218305DiVA, id: diva2:1822157
Forskningsfinansiär
Forte, Forskningsrådet för hälsa, arbetsliv och välfärd, 2020-00208AFA Försäkring, 2002792023-12-212023-12-212024-07-04Bibliografiskt granskad