[Biological monitoring in chromium-plating industry]

The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the role of biological monitoring as a means of surveillance of exposure in the Danish chromium-plating industry. We collected spot urine samples from 47 employees in five electro-plating plants near Aarhus and compared the results wide 40 non-exposed workers. We found no increase of chromium in urine during a work shift (mean = 0.11 nmol chromium/mmol creatinine, p = .46). The mean urine chromium value among the chromium workers was twice the mean value of the referent population (p = 0.001). There was, however, a considerable overlap between the two populations. All of the urine chromium values were much lower than the proposed American biological exposure indices. The results do not indicate any need for implementation of biological monitoring in the Danish chromium-plating industry, but longitudinal studies concerning possible accumulation of chromium at present occupational exposure levels should be carried out.