Whole blood chromium level and chromium excretion in the rat after zinc chromate inhalation.

Studies on absorption and excretion of chromium in the rat exposed to known atmospheric concentrations of zinc chromate in an inhalation chamber and the influence of diurnal variations in physical activity have been carried out. Chromium analyses were performed on samples of blood, urine and faeces using a method for determining chromium in small samples of biological material based on flameless atomic absorption spectrometry. Zinc chromate is absorbed quickly during exposure and excreted mainly via urine. An accumulation of chromium in blood was observed, followed by a slow elimination. It is suggested that chromium from zinc chromate enters the blood in the hexavalent state.