Olfactory Function in Chromium Exposed Workers Without Nasal Septum Perforation / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: The chrome-induced olfactory alterations is caused by inhalation of chromic acid, a highly corrossive and toxic materials. And nasal septum perforation(NSP) has been suspected with possible causative factor of olfactory alterations. To our knowledge, there has been no report of the detailed findings of the olfactory alterations in chrome exposed subjects without nasal septum perforation(NSP). So we present the results of olfactory function test measured by T&T olfactometer and olfactometer perception test among chromium exposed workers without NSP. METHODS: We performed this study in 25 study subjects and 25 control subjects matched with age, alcohol and smoking. All of subjects are man. We performed olfactory function test measured by T&T olfactometer and olfactometer perception test. RESULTS: 1) The age distribution of the subjects involved in this study was from 20 to 54 years old (average 33.3 years old) and the mean duration exposed to chromium was from 64. 9 months. 2) The olfactory function was checked by detection and recognition thresholds in five odorants. The detection thresholds of exposed group dealing with chromium were significantly increased in A and B ordorants than nonexposed group. The recognition thresholds of exposed group were significantly increased in D ordorants than nonexposed group. 3) The mean threshold of olfactometer perception test of exposed group were more increased than nonexposed group. But thresholds difference did not show statistical significance, 4) The detection thresholds of A and D ordorants, recognition threshold of C ordorants and thresholds of olfactometer perception test were increased in the relation with duration of chrome exposure. CONCLUSIONS: There has been no remarkable alterations in olfactory sense (TkT olfactometer and Olfactometer Perception Test) in subjects without nasal septum perforation(NSP) exposed to chromic acid.

Olfactory Dysfunction in Chromium Exposed Workers / 예방의학회지

Chromium is one of the representative toxic substance by occupational exposure which damage the mucosa of respiratory tract including nasal septal perforation. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of chromium exposure on olfactory function and to obtain the fundamental information about chromium exposure. The authors performed olfactory function test, laboratory tests and questionnaire interview on the subject of three groups, that is, two exposed groups and one nonexposed group from May 1 to June 30, 1994. Exposed group 1 was 15 male workers without nasal septal perforation, exposed group 2 was 15 male workers with nasal septal perforation among 103 workers in 22 chromium plating factories, and nonexposed group was 15 male medical students. The gathered informations were histories of chromium exposure, habits of smoking and alcohol drinking, the concentrations of chromium in serum and urine, and asparate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), gamma-gluutamyl transferase,etc. Olfactory function was checked by T and T olfectometer using phenyl ethyl alcohol(material A), methyl cyclopentenolone(material B), iso-valeric acid(material C), gamma-undecalactone(material D), skatole(material E) and the results were expressed by detection threshold(DT) and recognition threshold(RT). There was a significant difference between exposed groups and nonexposed group in A, B, C, D, E substances by DT and in A, B, C, D substances by RT(p<0.01) The degree of olfactory dysfunction was highest in the exposed group 2 and lowest in the nonexposed group in all five substance by Dt and it was same in A B, D substance RT and the difference of RT and DT. As summary, olfactory dysfunction by chromium exposure was recognized and the degree of olfactory dysfunction was higher in the exposed group with nasal septal perforation. Therefore, it would be helpful to apply olfactory function test for the early detection of olfactory dysfunction, and this test would be considered as the basic tool within workers' compensation system.