- Email: [email protected]
288. Chromium levels in man
PROCESSING AND PACKAGING CONTAMINANTS
301
by free I in textiles, have been reported in European countries. Similar reports, however, have not been forthcoming from the U.S.A. and to explain this discrepancy the authors set out to test U.S. textiles for dermatitic activity, assaying free I by the chromotropic acid method. Samples of textiles, stated to have a I content of 0.03-0.075 %, a paper towel and a facial tissue were applied to the skirt of 20 patients who previously reacted positively to 2-5 % I in routine patch tests. No signs of dermatitis were observed in these tests, nor in the same individuals wearing I-treated textiles. Hovding (Acta derm.- veneriol., Stokh. 1959, 39, 357) believed that textile-induced dermatitis was due to an excessive concentration of free I, shown by him to be present in Scandinavian finished fabrics. There is a further factor which enters into the situation, namely the widespread use of I as an anti-perspirant in Europe but not in the U.S.A. This may well be the manner in which dermatitis starts, to develop later into 'textile eczema'. Fisher, A. A., Kanof, N. B. & Biondi, Ella M. (1962). Free formaldehyde in textiles and paper. Arch. Derm. 86, 753. 288. Chromium levels in man
It is known that trivalent chromium (Cr) is involved in carbohydrate and fat metabolism and therefore appears to be an essential trace element. We have previously reported on the absence of chronic toxic effects from low levels of Cr (Cited in F.C.T. 1963, 1, 131) which may arise as a contaminant during cooking, preserving or canning. Now a comprehensive analytical survey is available of the distribution of Cr in human and animal tissues. The authors found that high concentrations of Cr were present in infant tissues~ notably in the lung, heart and kidneys. The levels diminished appreciably with age, except in the lungs. However, no accumulation of Cr was demonstrated in newborn laboratory animals. Regional differences in the Cr content of human tissues existed and it was noticeable that U.S.A. levels were well below the average, in contrast to the exceptionally high kidney Cr levels in human subjects from Bangkok and Manila. Cr levels were significantly higher in mammals other than man and this could be attributed to the greater intake of Cr in the diet of domestic and wild animals. Cr was also detected in a number of samples of potable water taken from different parts of the U.S.A. and significant differences in the Cr content, 0--7 ppb, were observed. The amount of Cr in the air varied considerably in different regions of the U S.A. and the highest Cr levels were obtained in areas of heavy industry. The average total daily intake of 30-140 tzg of Cr by man was derived from food, 30-100 /ag; water, 0--40/ag and air, 0-0.3 tzg. A very high proportion of dietary Cr was excreted in the faeces; most of what was absorbed returned to the intestine in the bile and only about 1% entered the general circulation, to be excreted in the urine. Traces might be stored, probably in an insoluble form, in the lungs. In contrast to cadmium and lead, Cr is easily eliminated from the animal body and therefore presents no toxic hazard. Schroeder, H. A., Balassa, J. J. & Tipton, Isabel H. (1962). Abnormal trace metals in m a n - Chromium. J. chron. Dis. 15, 941. 289. Molybdenum toxicology
The present study of the biological effect of molybdenum sulphate in rabbits was prompted by two facts: inorganic sulphates have been shown (Reen & Williams, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 1956, 63, 1) to counteract poisoning by molybdenum (Mo) to some extent, and secondly rabbits have higher serum inorganic sulphate levels than man and many laboratory and farm animals. In this investigation rabbits were given 0.20-0.23 % of sodium molybdate in the diet for periods ranging between 3 and 4 weeks. In over 50 % of the test animals signs of Mo poisoning were manifest as rotation of the lower part of the foreleg
301
by free I in textiles, have been reported in European countries. Similar reports, however, have not been forthcoming from the U.S.A. and to explain this discrepancy the authors set out to test U.S. textiles for dermatitic activity, assaying free I by the chromotropic acid method. Samples of textiles, stated to have a I content of 0.03-0.075 %, a paper towel and a facial tissue were applied to the skirt of 20 patients who previously reacted positively to 2-5 % I in routine patch tests. No signs of dermatitis were observed in these tests, nor in the same individuals wearing I-treated textiles. Hovding (Acta derm.- veneriol., Stokh. 1959, 39, 357) believed that textile-induced dermatitis was due to an excessive concentration of free I, shown by him to be present in Scandinavian finished fabrics. There is a further factor which enters into the situation, namely the widespread use of I as an anti-perspirant in Europe but not in the U.S.A. This may well be the manner in which dermatitis starts, to develop later into 'textile eczema'. Fisher, A. A., Kanof, N. B. & Biondi, Ella M. (1962). Free formaldehyde in textiles and paper. Arch. Derm. 86, 753. 288. Chromium levels in man
It is known that trivalent chromium (Cr) is involved in carbohydrate and fat metabolism and therefore appears to be an essential trace element. We have previously reported on the absence of chronic toxic effects from low levels of Cr (Cited in F.C.T. 1963, 1, 131) which may arise as a contaminant during cooking, preserving or canning. Now a comprehensive analytical survey is available of the distribution of Cr in human and animal tissues. The authors found that high concentrations of Cr were present in infant tissues~ notably in the lung, heart and kidneys. The levels diminished appreciably with age, except in the lungs. However, no accumulation of Cr was demonstrated in newborn laboratory animals. Regional differences in the Cr content of human tissues existed and it was noticeable that U.S.A. levels were well below the average, in contrast to the exceptionally high kidney Cr levels in human subjects from Bangkok and Manila. Cr levels were significantly higher in mammals other than man and this could be attributed to the greater intake of Cr in the diet of domestic and wild animals. Cr was also detected in a number of samples of potable water taken from different parts of the U.S.A. and significant differences in the Cr content, 0--7 ppb, were observed. The amount of Cr in the air varied considerably in different regions of the U S.A. and the highest Cr levels were obtained in areas of heavy industry. The average total daily intake of 30-140 tzg of Cr by man was derived from food, 30-100 /ag; water, 0--40/ag and air, 0-0.3 tzg. A very high proportion of dietary Cr was excreted in the faeces; most of what was absorbed returned to the intestine in the bile and only about 1% entered the general circulation, to be excreted in the urine. Traces might be stored, probably in an insoluble form, in the lungs. In contrast to cadmium and lead, Cr is easily eliminated from the animal body and therefore presents no toxic hazard. Schroeder, H. A., Balassa, J. J. & Tipton, Isabel H. (1962). Abnormal trace metals in m a n - Chromium. J. chron. Dis. 15, 941. 289. Molybdenum toxicology
The present study of the biological effect of molybdenum sulphate in rabbits was prompted by two facts: inorganic sulphates have been shown (Reen & Williams, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 1956, 63, 1) to counteract poisoning by molybdenum (Mo) to some extent, and secondly rabbits have higher serum inorganic sulphate levels than man and many laboratory and farm animals. In this investigation rabbits were given 0.20-0.23 % of sodium molybdate in the diet for periods ranging between 3 and 4 weeks. In over 50 % of the test animals signs of Mo poisoning were manifest as rotation of the lower part of the foreleg