Zinc chromate

Abstract: Hexavalent chromium compounds (sodium dichromate, potassium chromate, chromic acid, basic zinc chromate and basic lead chromate) were found to be mutagenic for his − strains of S. typhimurium by inducing both frameshifts and base-pair substitutions. However, addition of either microsomal fractions from rat liver or of human erythrocyte lysates resulted in a complete loss of mutagenicity. As confirmed by chemical analysis, reversal of mutagenicity could be ascribed to reduction of the metal to the inactive trivalent form through a simple oxido-reductive reaction. In fact, reducing agents (ascorbic acid and sodium sulfite) and metabolites (GSH, DPNH and TPNH, either directly tested or obtained by mixing G6PD with S-9 mix) prevented hexavalent chromium mutagenicity, whereas an oxidizing agent (potassium permanganate) totally inhibited reversal of mutagenicity by liver and erythrocyte preparations. Enzymic conversion appeared to be involved in deactivation processes through a large production of TPNH via the hexose monophosphate oxidative pathway and other ancillary systems. On the other hand, microsomal preparations from rat lung displayed an extremely poor inactivating effect on chromium mutagenicity, and those from rat muscle, as well as human serum or plasma, were ineffective. These findings could bear relevance for the elective localization of chromium-induced tumors in human lung and could account for the results of animal carcinogenicity tests, which generally showed the development of tumors, but only at implant sites.

Abstract: Twenty one chromium containing materials were examined for carcinogenic activity in a two year study using an intrabronchial pellet implantation system whereby pellets loaded with test material were surgically implanted into the lower left bronchus of rats. The principal aim of the study was to extend our knowledge of the carcinogenic potential of chromium compounds and, in particular, chromates (Cr6+). A statistically significant incidence of treatment related lung tumours was found with some sparingly soluble chromate materials. All tumours were large keratinizing squamous carcinomas of the left lung, except for a single left lung adenocarcinoma and two left lung anaplastic carcinomas. No bronchial carcinomas (0/100) were seen in the negative control group (blank pellet loaded with cholesterol), whereas bronchial carcinomas (22/48 and 25/100) occurred in the two positive control groups which received pellets loaded with 20-methylcholanthrene and calcium chromate respectively. Among the 20 test materials, only three groups gave statistically significant numbers of bronchial carcinomas. Two of these were groups receiving different samples of strontium chromate which gave 43/99 and 62/99 tumours. The third group, zinc chromate (low solubility), gave 5/100 bronchial carcinomas. A further zinc chromate group (Norge composition) produced 3/100 bronchial carcinomas which was not statistically significant. A few lung tumours were observed in other test groups.