Reaction mass of heptachromium tricarbide and trichromium dicarbide

Epidemiological data

Administrative data

Endpoint:

epidemiological data

Type of information:

migrated information: read-across based on grouping of substances (category approach)

Adequacy of study:

supporting study

Reliability:

2 (reliable with restrictions)

Rationale for reliability incl. deficiencies:

other: Read-across: exposure to various chromium species. Acceptable, well-documented study report which meets basic scientific principles.

Data source

Reference

Reference Type:

publication

Title:

Mortality and incidence of tumours among ferrochromium workers.

Author:

Axelsson, G., R. Rylander, et al.

Year:

1980

Bibliographic source:

Br J Ind Med.37(2): 121-7.

Materials and methods

Study type:

cohort study (retrospective)

Endpoint addressed:

carcinogenicity

Test guideline

Qualifier:

no guideline followed

Principles of method if other than guideline:

The health status of 1932 males employed for a minimum of one year between 1930 and 1975 at a Swedish plant producing ferrochromium alloys from chromite ore was analyzed. For the study, cancer deaths and incidences were collected from national registers, and expected deaths and cancer cases were computed using a life table method. No data on smoking habits or chromium exposure measurements were available.

GLP compliance:

no

Test material

Test material information

Constituent 1

Reference substance name:

Automatically generated during migration to IUCLID 6, no data available

IUPAC Name:

Automatically generated during migration to IUCLID 6, no data available

Details on test material:

Mainly exposure to metallic and trivalent chromium, but also hexavalent chromium in certain working operations. No details available.

Method

Type of population:

occupational

Ethical approval:

not specified

Details on study design:

The health status of all males employed for a minimum of one year between 1930 and 1975 at a Swedish plant producing ferrochromium alloys from chromite ore was analyzed. For the study, cancer deaths and incidences were collected from national registers, and expected deaths and cancer cases were computed using a life table method. No data on smoking habits or chromium exposure measurements were available.

Exposure assessment:

estimated

Details on exposure:

Cr(III) and Cr(VI) exposures were estimated based on recent measurements and discussions with retired workers and foremen employed in the 1930s. The estimated levels were presented as Cr(VI)+Cr(III) or as Cr(VI) mg/m3.
Exposure to Cr(III) was expected to be highest for workers at arc-furnaces, including maintenance personnel and for those working with metal grinding and sample preparation.

Statistical methods:

For each comparison of expected and observed cancer values two-sided p-values were calculated using the Poisson distribution. p<0.05 considered as significant.

Results and discussion

Results:

The study results did not show any increase in death rate or in the incidence of cancer among the workers of the ferrochromium plant.

Applicant's summary and conclusion

Conclusions:

The incidence of tumours and cause of death were investigated among 1932 workers of a ferrochromium plant.The study results did not show any increase in death rate or in the incidence of cancer among the workers . Based on the outcome of this study, it is reasonable to believe that the risk of developing respiratory tumours is considerably less after exposure to trivalent chromium compounds than after exposure to hexavalent chromates.

Executive summary:

The incidence of tumours and cause of death were investigated among 1932 workers of a ferrochromium plant.The study results did not show any increase in death rate or in the incidence of cancer among the workers . Based on the outcome of this study, it is reasonable to believe that the risk of developing respiratory tumours is considerably less after exposure to trivalent chromium compounds than after exposure to hexavalent chromates.