Chronic chromate intoxication with renal tubular damage--report of a case

A 46-year-old male chromium plating worker visited our hospital due to rhinorrhea, sneezing and cough with blood-tinged sputum for more than 10 years. He also had skin ulceration and chronic dermatitis on both hands Medical therapy was inefficient. Physical examinations revealed nasal septum perforation, severe inflammation of the nasopharynx cavity, and eczema of both hands. Laboratory investigations showed significant tubule proteinuria, enzymuria, hypercalciuria, etc. It is evident that renal tube damage was present in this patient. The blood chromium level was 25 ng/mL, and the 24-hour urine chromium excretion level was 2.8 mg/day. A pulmonary function test showed reduced functional residual capacity (FRC), which may be due to either long-term smoking or chromate acid exposure. To our knowledge this is the first case of renal tubal damage induced by chronic chromate intoxication Taiwan. Further evaluation of the occupational safety and health of chromium plating workers is needed on this island.