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An analysis of chromium, copper, and zinc in organs of a chromate worker

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Summary

The content of chromium, copper, and zinc and the valency of chromium were measured in organs of a chromate worker who had been exposed to a considerable amount of hexavalent chromium for 30 years and died of maxillary and lung cancer 10 years after his retirement. The chromium in the lung of the worker averaged 3,555 ppb on a wet tissue weight basis, while those in the lung of five controls were 86.0–399 ppb. Organs other than the lung of the worker also had more chromium than those of the controls. The amounts of copper and zinc did not vary as widely as did chromium. The ratio of hexavalent chromium to total chromium was 29.3% in the lung of the worker and 12.9 to 38.7% in controls, and its ratio in the lung was lower than that in the other organs.

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Hyodo, K., Suzuki, S., Furuya, N. et al. An analysis of chromium, copper, and zinc in organs of a chromate worker. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 46, 141–150 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00378192

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00378192

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