Intake of chromium in Germany: risk or normality?

Long-term ecological or anthropogenic exposure of humans to chromium via th e food chain or work place can lead to chronic diseases or further to mutag enic or cancerogenic changes. Nutritive intake of chromium is so low at the moment that, in spite of availability exceeding requirement there is no da nger in the case of intestinal intake. A modest individual increase in inta ke of this element can only occur via foodstuffs or drinking water from chr omium exposed private gardens. Chromium-sensitive men must avoid contact wi th this element and minimise their intake in order to slow down the occurre nce of chromium allergies once their body stores are full. Chromium intake of German adults with mixed diet decreased between 1988 and 1996. The reduc ed nutritive intake shows that the measures taken to avoid the anthropogeni c exposures of the environment are beginning to take effect. Chromium defic iency does not need to be reckoned with German adults. Without expectation, the chromium intake of both sexes was > 25 mug:day averaged over a week. T he individual basic requirement is indicated as < 20 <mu>g/day. The chromiu m intake of German adults is below the limit value of 250 mug/day, by the W HO, but it is astonishingly high, at least for chromium sensitive men (and women).