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Toxicity and oxidative stress induced by chromium in workers exposed from different occupational settings around the globe: A review

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Abstract

The present review focused on the levels and toxicological status of heavy metals especially chromium (Cr) in the exposed workers from different occupational settings around the globe and in Pakistan. It was found that exposed workers from leather tanning and metal plating units showed elevated levels of Cr than the workers from other occupational settings. Cr and other heavy metals level in biological matrices of the exposed workers in different occupational settings revealed that developing countries are severely contaminated. Occupational settings from the Sialkot district, Pakistan exhibited elevated level of Cr in biological entities of the exposed workers. Review suggested that higher level of Cr exposure to the workers enhance the oxidative stress (reactive oxygen species (ROS) and hydroxyl (OH) radical generation) which may cause; cellular and molecular damage such as genotoxicity and chromosomal aberration formations, and carcinogenic effects. This review will help to understand the Cr contamination mechanisms and associated health implications in different occupational settings around the globe in general and particularly to Pakistan. This study will also assist occupational health and safety management authorities to devise or change the Cr recommended exposure limits (REL) for different occupational settings.

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Abbreviations

Cr (III):

Chromium trivalent

Cr (VI):

Chromium hexavalent

GSH:

Glutathione

SOD:

Superoxide dismutase

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

MN:

Micronucleus

BNMN:

Binucleated micronucleus

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for supports from the Hundred Talents Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (to D.S.P.), the Key Application and Development Program of Chongqing Science and Technology Commission (Grant No. cstc2014yykfC20004 to D.S.P.) and HEC Start Up Research grant, Pakistan 21-700/SRGP/R&D/HEC/2016. Further, thanks to University of Chinese Academy of Sciences for awarding first author UCAS Scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Muhammad Junaid

  2. Department of Environmental Sciences, Environmental Biology and Ecotoxicology Lab, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Junaid & Riffat Naseem Malik

  3. Research Center for Environment and Health, Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, 400714, China

    Muhammad Junaid & De-Sheng Pei

  4. Department of Meteorology, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

    Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi

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  1. Muhammad Junaid
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  2. Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi
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  3. Riffat Naseem Malik
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  4. De-Sheng Pei
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Correspondence to Muhammad Zaffar Hashmi, Riffat Naseem Malik or De-Sheng Pei.

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Junaid, M., Hashmi, M.Z., Malik, R.N. et al. Toxicity and oxidative stress induced by chromium in workers exposed from different occupational settings around the globe: A review. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 20151–20167 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7463-x

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