Chronic occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium causes DNA damage in electroplating workers

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Toxicology
• Occupational Medicine

Background:

• Occupational exposure to chromium compounds poses health risks.
• Electroplating workers may be exposed to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)).
• Potential for low-level Cr(VI) exposure to induce DNA damage requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate DNA damage in electroplating workers with low-level hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) exposure.
• To assess chromium levels and biomarkers of oxidative stress in exposed workers.
• To determine the association between chromium exposure and DNA damage indicators.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 157 electroplating workers and 93 controls.
• Measured erythrocyte chromium levels using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
• Assessed DNA damage in lymphocytes via alkaline comet assay (Olive tail moment, tail length, tail DNA%) and urinary 8-OHdG levels via ELISA.

Main Results:

• Electroplating workers had significantly higher erythrocyte chromium levels (4.41 μg/L vs. 1.54 μg/L) and urinary 8-OHdG (13.65 μg/g vs. 8.31 μg/g) compared to controls.
• Exposed workers showed significantly increased DNA damage markers: Olive tail moment, tail length, and tail DNA% (P < 0.001).
• Positive dose-response associations were observed between erythrocyte chromium levels and DNA damage indicators.

Conclusions:

• Detectable chromium exposure is present in electroplating workers.
• Low-level occupational chromium exposure induces significant DNA damage.
• Findings highlight the genotoxic risk associated with chromium exposure in occupational settings.