Chromate allergy: total chromium and hexavalent chromate in the air.

This is a study on atmospheric concentration of total chromium and hexavalent chromate and its role in chromate sensitivity. Air concentration of total chromium and hexavalent chromate in a construction factory, a busy city area, a suburban area, a residential area, and a heavy industrial area were measured by air sampling pumps. Hexavalent chromate was not detected in any sampled areas. Two (concreting areas) of 8 locations in the construction factory had total chromium of 0.2 and 2.3 micrograms/m3 in the atmosphere. It appeared that the atmospheric concentration of total chromium and hexavalent chromate was negligible. These findings indicate that unexplained chromate sensitivity, as so often seen in patients attending a contact dermatitis clinic, is not attributable to exposure to hexavalent chromate in the air.