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Toxicological information

Carcinogenicity

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Administrative data

Description of key information

There are no experimental studies of carcinogenicity of zinc tetraoxychromate by oral, dermal or inhalation exposure but there are reports on carcinogenicity studies where zinc tetraoxychromate (one study), zinc potassium chromate and/or other hexavalent chromium compounds were given either by other routes which can be taken as substitutes of inhalation, i. e. by intratracheal or intrabronchial administration.
The epidemiological evidence on the inhalation carcinogenicity of poorly soluble hexavalent chromium is obvious as has been concluded in the carcinogenicity assessments of various international/governmental institutions.

Key value for chemical safety assessment

Justification for classification or non-classification

Zinc tetraoxychromate is a sparingly soluble substance. Slightly soluble or almost insoluble chromates have been carcinogens in animal tests and clear epidemiological evidence exists on their inhalation carcinogenicity.

The CLP classification of zinc tetraoxychromate shall be Cat 1A.

Additional information

There are no experimental studies of carcinogenicity of zinc tetraoxychromate by oral, dermal or inhalation exposure. However, there are reports on carcinogenicity studies where zinc tetraoxychromate and zinc potassium chromate and/or other hexavalent chromium compounds were given by other routes which can be taken as substitutes of inhalation, i. e. by intratracheal or intrabronchial administration. A group of 48 female and 52 male rats received stainless-steel pellets loaded with 2 mg of zinc potassium chromate. After two years, number of rats with squamous carcinoma were 3 (4,9%), carcinoma in situ 3 (4,9%) and squamous metaplasia 18 (29,5%). The results showed that incidence of squamous metaplasia, which is a putative preneoplastic lesion, was significantly increased by zinc potassium chromate. In an another similarily conducted study, where zinc tetraoxychromate was tested, the incidences of squamous metaplasia, dysplasia and squamous carcinoma were 6/100, 1/100 and 1/100. The epidemiological evidence on the inhalation carcinogenicity of poorly soluble hexavalent chromium is obvious. Tumors have been produced in nearly every study utilizing the slightly soluble or insoluble particulates such as zinc, lead, strontium and sintered calcium chromate. A large number of published reports show that particulate chromates embody the highest risk because of adhesion to the cell surface followed by slow but chronic dissolution in the immediate microenvironment of the cell surface allowing released chromate oxyanions to escape extracellular reduction and be absorbed into the cell. Specific epidemiological studies where zinc tetraoxychromate had been the sole or principal exposing agents do not exist. Because the carcinogenic potential originates from the Cr(VI) -anions, this report reviews epidemiological studies where the exposing agents have been hexavalent chromium compounds. Exposures in various industries to hexavalent chromium have had association with elevated risks of respiratory system cancers. Some of these studies have even enabled dose-response analyses for quantitative cancer risk analysis. A linear extrapolation (non-threshold) application of epidemiological studies suggests that there may be a 25% risk of lung cancer morbidity resulting from occupational exposure to Cr(VI) -containing dusts and mists under 52 microg/m3Cr(VI), which was the exposure limit deemed permissible 1971 by the U. S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 1971. Thelimit was readjusted in 2006 to 5 microg/m3, highlighting the fact that exposure to chromates continues to be a major public health issue.