Panel discussion: epidemiologic and toxicologic studies of chromium.

The questions posed to the panel focused mainly on methods of exposing experimental animals and on the dermatologic consequences of chromium exposure. The role of bioavailability figured prominently in both issues. Individuals whose homes or workplaces are on former chromium-waste dumpsites and particularly children who play on such sites are likely to have skin contact with chromium compounds. If they are exposed at all it would be to a relatively low dose, but exposure is likely to be recurrent, and the skin may be the main route of exposure. For children, however, ingestion cannot be ignored.