Objective To understand the chromium content in urine and erythrocytes of workers in a chromate factory and nearby villagers.
Methods A total of 146 workers in a chromate factory near Yangtze river were chosen as occupational exposure group. A total of 103 villagers living in a nearby village were chosen as environmental exposure group. A total of 140 villagers living in a unpolluted village that was located 15 kilometers away from the factory on the upstream direction of Yangtze river were chosen as control group. All subjects were required to fill a questionnaire form and provide an urine sample and a venous blood sample. Graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine chromium in urine and erythrocytes.
Results Chromium in erythrocytes of occupational exposure group was significantly higher than control group(P<0.05). Chromium in urine was significantly higher than environmental exposure group and control group respectively(P<0.05).
Conclusion Chromium contents in erythrocytes and urine of occupational exposure group were higher than that in control. Further surveillance and studies should be implemented to ascertain whether there were occupational and environmental hazardous effects to public health.
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