Chromium as an industrial carcinogen: Part II. Chromium in human tissues.

A continuation of the findings in a study of workers hired in 1931-1937 in a chromate plant, directed at the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk of insoluble, soluble, and total chromium. Chemical analyses of tissues of autopsies, identified by age at hire, cumulative exposure to insoluble, soluble, and total chromium and interval since last exposure are cited for three lung cancer cases. Histological identification of insoluble chromium was demonstrated. Marked deposition and retention of concentrations of chromium was noted 18.0 years since last exposure. In one case with cumulative exposure to insoluble chromium of 10.74 mg versus 0.63 mg for soluble chromium and histological demonstration of insoluble chromium, chrysotile was also identified.