Sister-chromatid exchanges induced by some chromium compounds in human lymphocytes in vitro

Treatments with various concentrations of K2Cr2O7, CaCrO4 and CrO3 were given to human lymphocytes cultured in presence of BrdUrd for 2 replicative cycles. Sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) were visualized by a combination of fluorescent and Giemsa techniques. In all cases, the higher the concentrations the higher the frequencies of SCEs per metaphase and per chromosome. On a concentration basis, the order of effectiveness in producing SCEs was: CaCrO4 much greater than CrO3 greater than K2Cr2O7.