Objective To investigate the exposure levels and occupational health risks of workers exposed to hexavalent chromium compounds in the chromate production and chrome plating industries in China under currently accessible economic and technological conditions.

Methods A chromate production enterprise and a chrome plating enterprise with domestic advanced technologies and processes were selected as study subjects. Relevant data were collected through occupational health investigations, and airborne hexavalent chromium concentration in workplaces was measured. The models specified in Technical Guidelines for Occupational Health Risk Assessment of Chemical Hazards in the Workplace (GBZ/T 298-2017) were applied to evaluate the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with inhalation exposure to hexavalent chromium.

Results The time-weighted average concentrations (C_TWA) of hexavalent chromium exposure across different job positions in the two enterprises ranged from 0.071 to 29.484 μg/m³. Among the 33 job positions exposed to hexavalent chromium in two enterprises, the worker's non-carcinogenic risk from inhalation exposure to hexavalent chromium was unacceptable in 100% of the positions, and the carcinogenic risk was unacceptable in 81.8% (27 job positions). Specifically, in the chromium salt production enterprise, the proportion of workers exposed to hexavalent chromium with unacceptable non-carcinogenic risk was 100% (24/24 job positions), and the proportion with unacceptable carcinogenic risk was 75% (18/24 job positions). In the chrome plating enterprise, both the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks from inhalation exposure to hexavalent chromium among workers were unacceptable (100%, 9/9 job positions). No statistically significant differences were observed in the proportions of unacceptable non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks between these two industries (both P > 0.05).

Conclusions Occupational health risks in the chromate production and chrome plating industries remain high. Enterprises are advised to implement measures such as upgrading processes, renewing equipment, and substituting materials to effectively reduce the concentration of hexavalent chromium in workplace air and thereby lower the health risks to workers caused by inhalation exposure.