Lipid peroxidation in workers exposed to hexavalent chromium

The aim of this study was to investigate whether exposure to hexavalent chr omium induces lipid peroxidation in human. This study involved 25 chrome-pl ating factory workers and a reference group of 28 control subjects. The who le-blood and urinary chromium concentrations were determined by graphite fu rnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Malondialdehyde (MDA), the produ ct of lipid peroxidation, was determined by high-performance liquid chromat ography, and the activities of protective enzymes were measured by ultravio let-visible spectrophotometry. In the chrome-plating workers, the mean conc entrations of chromium in blood and urine were 5.98 mu g/L and 5.25 mu g/g creatinine, respectively; the mean concentrations of MDA in blood and urine were 1.7 mu mol/L and 2.24 mu mol/g creatinine. The concentrations of both chromium and MDA in blood and urine were significantly higher in the chrom ium-exposed workers. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathi one peroxidase (GPX), and catalase (CAT) were not markedly different betwee n control and exposed workers. Data suggest that MDA may be used as a bioma rker for occupational chromium exposure. Antioxidant enzymic activities are not a suitable marker for chromium exposure.