Microscopic analysis of chromium accumulation in the bronchi and lung of chromate workers

Abstract

BACKGROUNDIt is known that chromium is an inhaled carcinogen and an important risk factor in the development of lung carcinoma.METHODSThe 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.RESULTSThe 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).CONCLUSIONSPrevious 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. Cancer 2003. © 2003 American Cancer Society.

Determination of hexavalent chromium in exhaled breath condensate and environmental air among chrome plating workers

“…First of all, total Cr in EBC decreased 15 h after the last exposure, a finding that is in line with previous results observed before and after a weekend, and confirms that Cr can pass through airway lining fluid [11]: the kinetics of pulmonary lung desorption is relatively slow [35], and Cr accumulation has recently been observed in the bronchi and lungs of chromate workers [36]. Most importantly, the EBC Cr(VI) data confirmed that Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III) by airway lining fluid, but not completely so (Fig.…”

Chromium in exhaled breath condensate and pulmonary tissue of non-small cell lung cancer patients

“…The relatively low correlation coeYcients are justiWed by the narrow interval of measured values and the associated high intra-and extra-individual variability. Moreover, many authors have reported that pulmonary tissue Cr levels are not uniform in both exposed and unexposed subjects, and that Cr tends to accumulate in the upper lung areas and bronchi (Raithel et al 1987;Vanoeteren et al 1986;Ishikawa et al 1994;Kondo et al 2003). Although we measured Cr in three diVerent tissue pieces, this non-uniformity may explain the moderate r and r 2 values in our correlation with Cr-EBC (r = 0.55, r 2 = 0.30).…”

Surfactant protein B gene variations and susceptibility to lung cancer in chromate workers

“…Occupational exposure to CrVI occurs mainly through inhalation, where considerable quantities are retained in the lungs [Ishikawa et al, 1994;Kondo et al, 2003] leading to respiratory tract problems and lung cancer [Dayan and Paine, 2001].…”