chromium

HEALTH EFFECTS

CARCINOGENIC: LUNG, NASAL E.G. LEAD OR ZINC CHROMATE

RESPIRATORY: BRONCHITIS, NASAL SEPTUM PERFORATION, ULCERATION AND NASAL SYMPTOMS ITCHING , SNEEZING

Acute: sneezing, nose bleeds, cough, asthma (irritant or allergic)

DERMATOLOGY: SKIN SENSITISER( chrome vi not 3), ALLERGIC DERMATITIS AND IRRITANT CONTACT DERMATIS, CHROME SKIN ULCERS

ELECTROPLATING, STEEL ALLOYS

PIGMENTS IN PAINTS

LEATHER TANNING

CHROMIUM

INSOLUBLE chrome vi colored salts

Sodium and potassium dichromate

Sodium chromate and dichromate is the starting material. It is manufactured directly from chrome ore

HEXAVELNT CHROMIUM

Not the oxidation states of 3 and 6

3 is not a sensitiser on its own and is not carcinogenic

6 is the carcinogen and sensitizer

CHROME 3 OXIDISED TO CHROME VI

CHROME IV IS THE SENSITISER. NOT 3

TOPICAL 10% SODIUM EDTA CAN BE USED TO TREAT AND CHELATE CHROMIUM

No reaction with 3 without hexavalent

AIR MONITORING

MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE

URINE CHROME LEVELS AND LUNG FUNCTION TESTS

Urine is 30 MICROGRAMS PER GRAM Creatinine

Air 0.05 mg/mg3

OEL in air

0.05 mg/m3

scenarios

steel : with nickel, cr and fe

pigment in leather tanning

wood preservative

cement

renal and hepatic not common

True

Occurs naturally as ferrous chromite