Percutaneous absorption of trivalent and hexavalent chromium. A comparative investigation in the guinea pig by means of 51Cr.

By means of an in vivo isotope technique, the so-called disappearance measurements, a comparison was made during a five-hour period between the percutaneous absorption in the guinea pig of a trivalent (chromic chloride) and a hexavalent (sodium chromate) chromium compound. Nine different concentrations of each substance were studied. We found that in the concentration interval 0.017-0.239 molar the relative absorption of the hexavalent compound was somewhat higher, but the differences were not statistically significant. On the other hand, in the higher concentrations (0.261-0.398 molar) more of the hexavalent compound was absorbed, and the differences were statistically significant. This difference in percutaneous absorption for various concentrations can perhaps account for the divergent results, in respect to the absorption of trivalent and hexavalent chromium compounds, which have recently been published.