Individual susceptibility to hexavalent chromium of workers of shoe, hide, and leather industries. Immunological pattern of HLA-B8, DR3-positive subjects.

Background: This study was designed to examine the effects of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] on the immunological pattern of shoe, hide, and leather industry workers, moving from the hypothesis that some haplotypes (HLA-B8,DR3) can be important hidden risk cofactors.

Methods: Workplaces of 20 firms were monitored for total and respirable dusts and for total and hexavalent chromium. Cr(VI) on materials was also measured.