Investigations on magnesium and chromium antagonism in the skin of experimental animals.

Investigations were performed over 30 days on 25 male rats Wistar breed divided into five groups. Animals received intraperitoneally (i.p.) potassium dichromate (KDCH) 5 mg/kg (basal doses, b.d.), 2 mg/kg (0.4 b.d.) and 100 mg Mg Cl2/kg body weight (b.w.). In performed investigations the highest concentration of chromium in animal skin 1.17 +/- 0.11 micrograms/g was observed by i.p. administration of KDCH 5 mg/kg b.w. Simultaneous i.p. administration of KDCH 5 mg/kg b.w. and MgCl2 100 mg/kg b.w. resulted in significant lower concentration of chromium (in comparison to the preceding group) in animal skin: 0.8 +/- 0.2 microgram/g (p < 0.001). In i.p. administration of KDCH in the doses of 0.4 b.d. the concentration of Cr in the skin amounted to 0.55 +/- 0.1 microgram/g. Values of Cr in the skin in exposed groups were significantly higher than in the control group, (p < 0.001).

The influence of atmospheric chromium on selenium content and glutathione peroxidase activity in blood of tannery workers.

The concentration of selenium and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were determined in blood of 34 workers of a tannery in Gniezno, Poland, who worked in an area containing chromium compounds. Fourteen workers were exposed to chromium compounds at concentrations of 0.11 +/- 0.07 mg Cr/m3 (mean +/- SD) and 20 at concentrations 5-10 times lower i.e., 0.022 +/- 0.009 mg Cr/m3. Excretion of Se in urine was measured in all of the investigated workers. Decreased Se concentration in whole blood and blood plasma and elevated TBARS concentration in blood plasma were found in the whole group of investigated tanners as compared to controls. Tanners working in areas with high chromium concentrations had a statistically significant decrease in Se concentration in blood and plasma and decreased urinary excretion of the microelement as compared with other tanners. TBARS concentration was 2.5 times lower in workers exposed to higher chromium concentrations (p < 0.005) than in other workers. Positive linear correlations were found between the concentration of Se in blood and the amount of the element excreted in urine (r = 0.48; p < 0.005), the concentration of Se in blood plasma and in urine (r = 0.46; p < 0.01), and the concentration of Se in blood and erythrocyte GSH-Px activity (r = 0.42; p < 0.02). The observed differences between Se concentration in blood and urine of tannery workers and people who are not employed in the industry may indicate a kind of specific adaptation of the body to the working environment containing chromium compounds.

[Effect of potassium dichromate on histopathologic changes in testicles of white rats and results of atomic pilograms on fur]. / Wplyw dwuchromianu potasu na zmiany histopatologiczne w jadrach szczurów bialych i wyniki atomopilogramów siersci.

Male rats were administered, for the period of 30 days, potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) in a dose of 2 and 5 mg/kg of body weight and magnesium chloride (Mg Cl2) in a dose of 500 mg/kg of body weight. These two substances were also administered jointly (K2C2O7-5 mg/kg and MgCl2-500 mg/kg of body weight). In the testicles of animals receiving K2Cr2O7 in a dose of 5 mg/kg of body weight in groups III and IV there were observed changes of significant degree, mainly degenerative and multifocal, which consisted in degenerative changes of various degrees and changes of necrotic epithelium cells which, in turn, consist in cell hyper- or hypochromasia of chromatolysis or pycnosis and, too, in lesions of testicle epithelium of the spermatic epithelium cells. The cells of the Leydig intraparenchymatous gland did not reveal any histopathological changes as well as changes in the increase of hyatochemical tests. The highest concentration of chrome was in the hair of the animals receiving K2Cr2O7 in a dose of 5 mg/kg of body weight.

[So-called Monday leukergy in polishers of chromium-tanned leather]. / Tak zwana leukergia poniedzialkowa u szlifierzy skór garbowanych chromem.

The authors carried out preliminary leukergy examinations on Mondays and Fridays in 18 polishers exposed to chromium compounds at concentration of 0.1 mg in 1.0 m3 of air. On Mondays leukergy (X*-SD) was significantly higher and amounted to 27.3 +/- 11.4%. On Fridays leukergy amounted to 18.4 +/- 11.4% and it was not statistically different from that in the control group.