The Prevalence of Chromium Allergy in the United States and Its Implications for Setting Soil Cleanup: A Cost-Effectiveness Case Study

Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] elicits allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) among previously sensitized individuals, and some regulatory agencies have suggested the need for Cr(VI) soil standards that are protective of this health end point. To assess the cost effectiveness of implementing ACD-based standards, it is necessary to understand the prevalence of Cr(VI) sensitivity in the general population. More than 30 published studies from 1950 to 1997 were reviewed to determine the prevalence of Cr(VI) sensitivity. No random survey of the general United States (U.S.) population has been performed to date, but the prevalence of Cr(VI) sensitization among North American clinical cohorts (e.g., patients of dermatological clinics) was reported to be 1% in 1996. The prevalence of Cr(VI) sensitivity among the general U.S. population is estimated to be 0.08%. This estimate was calculated by dividing the current U.S. clinical prevalence estimate (1%) by the ratio of Cr(VI) sensitization in clinical vs general populations in The Netherlands (12). A retrospective cost/benefit analysis for sites in Jersey City, New Jersey, suggests that remediation of soils to protect against elicitation of ACD in sensitized individuals is not a cost-effective use of public health resources.