Carcinogenicity of Chromium among Steel Workers: A Comparative Cross Sectional Study
Hanan M. Hassanein1, Reem Abbas Abbas2, Hanaa A. Abo Zeina3, Saida Ali Hammad4,
Ali El-Hawary2, and Amal Saad5
1 Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology,
2 Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine; Faculty of Medicine - Zagazig University,
3 Public Health Department, Faculty of Medicine - Cairo University,
4 Department of Human Cytogentics, and
5 Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
Corresponding author: Dr. Amal Saad
Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine National Research Centre
El-Bohouth Street (Tahrir Street) - Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
E-mail: amel_h3@yahoo.com
CEJOEM 2008, Vol.14. No.2.: 137-148
Key words:
steel foundry workers, urinary chromium, sister chromatid exchanges, and tumour marker (CA15-3)
Abstract:
Background: Certain chromium compounds are prominent metal carcinogens in both occupational
and environmental settings.
Objectives: The present study aimed at using genotoxicological biomarkers as a
primary prevention measure, to prevent initiation of neoplastic diseases in steel foundry workers exposed to chromium.
On the other hand, use of tumour markers belongs to the means of secondary prevention by detecting the presence of
an initiated neoplastic disease in an early phase.
Subjects and methods: The study included three groups: 20 apparently
healthy male steel foundry workers, from different work sections, 20 apparently healthy male workers not exposed to
chromium compounds, as a negative control group, and 10 lung cancer patients from the National Cancer Institute, as
a positive control group. All participants were interviewed using a pre-constructed questionnaire. Furthermore, they
were subjected to urinary chromium level estimation, cytogenetic study in the form of SCEs, and tumour marker (CA15-3)
level measurement.
Results: Steel workers had significantly higher levels of urinary
chromium (5.5 ± 1.01 µg/L) compared to the other two groups (0.7 ± 0.19 and
0.8 ± 0.22 µg/L) (P<0.001). Also, steel workers had significantly higher SCEs and CA15-3 levels
compared to the negative controls (non-exposed workers) (P<0.001), but significantly lower than those of the
positive controls (lung cancer patients) (P<0.01). Moreover in the studied steel workers, there were significant
positive correlations between urinary chromium levels and both SCEs and CA15-3 levels.
Conclusion: It could be concluded that, unprotected occupational
exposure to chromium in steel production industry can carry the risk of developing cytogenetic changes and cancer,
and the methods used to detect these cytogenetic changes can be used as a primary prevention tool. Moreover, tumour
marker CA15-3 can be used as a screening test for early detection of the presence of the initiated neoplastic disease,
as a secondary prevention tool.
Recommendations: Periodic medical examinations and biological monitoring of steel
foundry workers, along with improving working conditions are recommended.
Received: 13 July 2007
Accepted: 4 March 2008
Revized
Received: 14 April 2008
Accepted: 21 April 2008
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