Summary Occupational exposure to chromium compounds has been reported in various industries including chromium chemicals and metallurgical production. Speciation of chromium is essential in exposure assessment. It has been under discussion whether there is a threshold level for hexavalent chromium exposure, especially in relation to genotoxic effects. Technological innovations in metallurgical industry have reduced the chromium exposure levels during the last decades. Ideal medical examination methods for surveillance for occupational health effects should be non-invasive and non-radiative. They should also give early warning signals.
Magneto-pneumography provides a non-invasive method for studying lung retention and the clearance of dust among subjects exposed to industrial aerosols with a magnetic component. Micronucleus assay of exfoliated cells of nasal mucosa is a method to study genotoxic effects of various exposures. These modern methods, in addition to the conventional ones, have been used in a research program in the Finnish ferrochromium and stainless steel production chain. The results indicated that an average exposure time of 23 years in ferrochromium and stainless steel production and exposure to dusts containing low concentrations of Cr6+ or Cr3+ does not lead to any respiratory changes detectable by lung function tests or radiography nor to any increase in symptoms of respiratory diseases. Nor does this exposure lead to nasal changes detectable by clinical or cytological examination. No genotoxic effects attributable to occupational chromium exposure could be observed in the micronucleus analysis of exfoliated nasal cells.