Protection against inhalation of chromic acid mist. Use of filters impregnated with ascorbic acid

Alterations in the prooxidant and antioxidant status of human leukemic T-lymphocyte MOLT4 cells treated with potassium chromate

The involvement of reactive oxygen species in chromate-induced genotoxicity has been postulated. Because intracellular antioxidants help in eliminating the reactive species of oxygen, we have investigated both the prooxidant and antioxidant status of human leukemic T-lymphocyte MOLT4 cells exposed to nontoxic levels of chromium(VI) in culture. The cells treated with 0-->200 microM potassium chromate in a salts/glucose medium for 2 h were found to contain significantly lower levels of both small molecular weight and macromolecular antioxidants. In particular, the levels of glutathione and ascorbate were found to decrease with increased doses of chromate exposure in a dose-dependent manner. As little as 10 microM chromate was found to decrease these small molecular weight antioxidants significantly (p < 0.01). The macromolecular antioxidants, such as glutathione peroxidase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and superoxide dismutase were also significantly (p < 0.01) decreased by exposing the cells to as little as 10 microM chromate. Concomitantly, there was a dose-dependent increase in intracellular H2O2 accumulation in cells exposed to chromium(VI). These results indicate that chromate-induced genotoxicity may be due, at least in part, to decreased levels of intracellular antioxidants in conjunction with an increased production of the reactive oxygen species.

Mechanisms of chromium carcinogenicity and toxicity

Chromium, like many transition metal elements, is essential to life at low concentrations yet toxic to many systems at higher concentrations. In addition to the overt symptoms of acute chromium toxicity, delayed manifestations of chromium exposure become apparent by subsequent increases in the incidence of various human cancers. Chromium is widely used in numerous industrial processes, and as a result is a contaminant of many environmental systems. Chromium, in its myriad chemical forms and oxidation states, has been well studied in terms of its general chemistry and its interactions with biological molecules. However, the precise mechanisms by which chromium is both an essential metal and a carcinogen are not yet fully clear. The following review does not seek to embellish upon the proposed mechanisms of the toxic and carcinogenic actions of chromium, but rather provides a comprehensive review of these theories. The chemical nature of chromium compounds and how these properties impact upon the interactions of chromium with cellular and genetic targets, including animal and human hosts, are discussed.

Role of physiological antioxidants in chromium(VI)-induced cellular injury

Chromium(VI) compounds are well known to be potent toxic and carcinogenic agents. Because chromium(VI) is easily taken up by cells and is subsequently reduced to the trivalent form, the formation of chromium(III) or other intermediate oxidation states such as chromium(V) and (IV) is believed to play a role in the adverse biological effects of chromium(VI) compounds. Recent in vitro studies have shown that this reduction process generates free radical species such as active oxygen radicals. Furthermore, physiological antioxidants are reported to modify the genotoxic and toxic effects of chromate. This article reviewed the recent in vitro and in vivo studies of the effects of antioxidants including active oxygen scavengers; glutathione; vitamins B2, E, and C, on chromate-induced injury such as DNA lesions; lipid peroxidation; enzyme inhibition; cytotoxicity; mutation; and so on. In addition, the mechanism of action of these antioxidants was discussed with respect to the formation of active oxygen radicals and paramagnetic chromium such as chromium(V) and (III). Such studies may help elucidate the mechanism of chromium(VI) toxicity as well as the mechanism of protection.