Journal of Environmental Biology

Chromium exposure study in chemical based industry

N.G. Sathwara, K.G. Patel*, J.B. Vyas, Shruti Patel, M.R. Trivedi, L.M. Dave,

M.M. Madia, P.K. Kulkarni, D.J. Parikh and H.N. Saiyed

National Institute of Occupational Health, Meghani Nagar, Ahmedabad-380 016, India

(Received: Septemebr 15, 2003 ; Revised received: July 02, 2004 ; Accepted: August 31, 2004)

Abstract: 176 chromium-exposed and 30 control subjects were selected for this study. Blood samples (3 ml) were collected for the estimation of chromium. The data on chromium concentration indicated a significant higher level of chromium in the blood of the exposed workers as compared to the control. There was no significant correlation between the mean blood and environmental chromium level. This study suggests that exposure to chromium may have some effect on the health of workers, even though the dose response relationship could not be established between blood chromium and environmental chromium levels. This study suggests that exposure to chromium may have some effect on the health of workers, even though the dose response relationship could not be established between blood chromium and environmental chromium levels. Study also indicates that the environmental levels to Cr are well below the permissible levels at all the sites of the industry at the time of survey, even though the blood Cr levels were observed high in 14.8% of workers and some of them were having Cr related morbidity. Therefore, preventive and engineering control measures are suggested to minimize the chromium exposure in the chromium based industry located in Gorwa industrial estate at Baroda, Gujarat. About three months period was taken to complete this study.

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