Efectos sobre la salud de la exposición laboral al cromo y sus compuestosrevisión sistemática

Abstract

Objectives: To review the scientific literature on the health effects of exposure to chromium and chromium compounds on workers. Methods: A systematic review of the scientific literature contained in the MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, Web of Knowledge, Cochrane Library Plus and LILACS databases through January 2013. The terms searched for, both as subject headings and in free text, were: "chromium", "chromium Compounds", "occupational exposure" and "occupational diseases". The search was completed through additional review of the bibliographic references included in the selected papers. Results: We recovered 227 references, from which we selected 22 articles after applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of these, genetic alterations were examined in eight studies; in one study, alterations in male reproduction; in four studies, respiratory alterations; in seven studies, cancer; and in two studies, dermatitis. Hexavalent chromium was the agent most frequently associated with the described health effects. Conclusions: Occupational exposure to chromium and chromium derivatives is associated with human health effects of varying severity. This is why adequate control measures should be implemented in the workplace to minimize exposure and diminish the number of associated diseases. More restrictive exposure limits for this agent, based on health criteria, should be established in the future.