Review article. Adverse hematological effects of hexavalent chromium: an overview

Abstract

Workers of tanneries, welding industries, factories manufacturing chromate containing paints are exposed to hexavalent chromium that increases the risk of developing serious adverse health effects. This review elucidates the mode of action of hexavalent chromium on blood and its adverse effects. Both leukocyte and erythrocyte counts of blood sharply decreased in Swiss mice after two weeks of intraperitoneal treatment with Cr (VI), with the erythrocytes transforming into echinocytes. The hexavalent chromium in the blood is readily reduced to trivalent form and the reductive capacity of erythrocytes is much greater than that of plasma. Excess Cr (VI), not reduced in plasma, may enter erythrocytes and lymphocytes and in rodents it induces microcytic anemia. The toxic effects of chromium (VI) include mitochondrial injury and DNA damage of blood cells that leads to carcinogenicity. Excess Cr (VI) increases cytosolic Ca2+ activity and ATP depletion thereby inducing eryptosis. Se, vitamin C, and quercetin are assumed to have some protective effect against hexavalent chromium induced hematological disorders.

Chromium Pollution in European Water, Sources, Health Risk, and Remediation Strategies: An Overview

“…Cellular membranes are relatively impermeable to cationic trivalent chromium, as confirmed by in vitro and in vivo studies adding radioactive Cr (III) to whole blood [94].…”

“…Fortunately, human body has compartments and mechanisms for attenuating Cr (VI) toxicity, related to specific reducing activities of body fluids [91]. These mechanisms involve the saliva, gastric juice, intestinal bacteria, blood, liver, epithelial lining fluid, pulmonary alveolar macrophages, peripheral lung parenchyma, and bronchial tree [16,[91][92][93][94].…”

“…Structural similarity of chromate ion to sulphate allows its easy entry through the general sulphate channels [42]. After crossing the cell membrane, chromium undergoes a series of metabolic reductions forming the unstable reaction intermediates, Cr (V) and Cr (IV), and finally the more stable form Cr (III) [94,101]. At physiological pH, intracellular reduction of Cr (VI) occurs involving several non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants.…”

Hemocoagulation and lipoperoxidation processes and mechanisms of renal osmoregulatory function’s impairment in chronic intoxication with chromium compounds

“…Однако взаимосвязь показателей патологии почек, развивающейся под влиянием длительного токсического воздействия хрома, с интенсивностью нарушений в системе гемостаза не изучалась. Отдельные наблюдения противоречивы и носят преимущественно экспериментальный характер и отражают сугубо токсикологические аспекты [11][12][13]. Проблема создания и разработки эффективных способов патогенетической профилактики и лечения хронической хромовой интоксикации является актуальной.…”

Impact of the Humic Origin Supplement on the Antioxidant System of Rats Affected by Chromium (VI)

“…Важкі метали є одним із найбільш розповсюджених хімічних факторів професійного ризику в умовах сучасної промисловості [1]. Сполуки шестивалентного хрому використовують на підприємствах кольорової металургії, хімічної та лакофарбової промисловості, текстильних і шкіряних заводах [2,3]. Біхромати використовують для виробництва сірників, сухих батарей, неорганічних пігментів, лакофарбових покриттів.…”