[Absorption of chromium through the skin and urinary excretion in rats]

The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the diffusion rate in vitro and the skin absorption rate of trivalent and hexavalent chromium from aqueous solution. Excretion of chromium in urine was also measured. The experiment was carried out on 47 Wistar male rats, 4-5 months old. The solutions of chromium sulfate or potassium dichromate contained 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg Cr per milliliter. Exposure time was 4 hrs. It was found that diffusion rate of Cr3+ was seven-time less than of Cr2O7(2-). Absorption rates of both ions through the skin were similar. Excretion rates of chromium in urine were not different in case exposure to both xenobiotics. It can be concluded that diffusion does not play an important role in absorption of chromium through the skin. It seems that oxidation grade of chromium has no influence on the excretion rate of this metal from the organism.