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morbidity was investigated in a cross-sectional study by Huvinen et al. (1996). All
workers who had been working for eight years or more in the same department at the
site were invited to participate, representing 222 from a total of 892 at the plant, and
221 of these agreed to participate. In addition, 95 of 132 workers from a cold rolling
mill were included as controls. Exposure data came from a survey which was
conducted during one year. This survey, which was separately reported in Huvinen et
al. (1993), involved the collection of 162 personal air samples and 72 static samples
in different parts of the plant. The samples were analysed for total dust, total
chromium and Cr VI . Data reported here represent personal sampling data only and are
8-hour TWA values.
Median total dust levels in different parts of the plant were 0.9 mg/m 3 (chromite
mine), 1.5 mg/m 3 (furnace department of ferrochromium plant), 2.4 mg/m 3 (sintering
and crushing area of ferrochromium plant) and 1.8 mg/m 3 (steel smelting shop 11 ).
Lower levels occurred in the cold rolling mill, which represented the "control" area;
median total dust levels for two parts of this area were 0.3 mg/m 3 and 0.5 mg/m 3 .
Measurable levels of total chromium occurred in all areas, with the exception of the
cold rolling area; median values were 22 µg/m 3 (chromite mine), 143 µg/m 3 (furnace
department of ferrochromium plant), 248 µg/m 3 (sintering and crushing area of
ferrochromium plant) and 30 µg/m 3 (steel smelting shop), respectively. In contrast,
median levels of Cr VI were below the limit of detection (