| Agent Name |
Chromium and compounds |
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| CAS Number |
7440-47-3, varies |
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| Formula |
Cr, varies |
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| Major Category |
Metals |
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| Synonyms |
Chrome, Chromium compounds |
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| Category |
Metals, Elemental |
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| Description |
Blue-white to steel-gray, lustrous, brittle, hard, odorless solid; |
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| Sources/Uses |
MINING, SMELTING, OR METALLURGY: Ore mining and crushing operations; Alloy production; Produce chromates from chromite; MANUFACTURING: Textile dyes; Paint pigments; Chrome plating; Leather tanning; Printing inks and toners; Photoengraving; Automotive & aircraft parts; Joint prostheses; Refractory bricks & kilns; USING: Heat or machine chromium alloys; Arc weld stainless steel; Spray paint Cr pigments; Mix and lay cement or concrete; Use water system corrosion inhibitors, wood preservatives, or glassware-cleansing solutions; use hexavalent chromates in hardeners for epoxy resin sealants; |
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| Comments |
Chromium metal and Cr III compounds are IARC 3 (not classifiable), while the Cr VI compounds are IARC 1 (human carcinogens); Hexavalent chromium compounds (Cr VI) include: A) water-soluble compounds: chromium trioxide (chromic acid), and monochromates and dichromates of sodium, potassium, ammonium, lithium, cesium and rubidium;
B) water-insoluble compounds: zinc chromate, strontium chromate and sintered chromium trioxide; [ACGIH] "NIOSH considers all Cr(VI) compounds (including chromic acid, tert-butyl chromate, zinc chromate, and chromyl chloride) to be potential occupational carcinogens." [NIOSH Pocket Guide Appendix] "Compounds of Cr III do not cause chrome ulcerations and do not generally initiate allergic dermatitis without prior sensitization by CrVI compounds." [ILO Encyclo, Vol 3, p. 63.1-63.68] Skin absorption is good for Cr VI, poor for Cr III. [Zenz, p. 487] Chromates, the most common cause of allergic contact dermatitis, are released as hexavalent chromium from chrome-plated metal tools and machine parts. [Marks, p. 117-9] Chromium is genotoxic, and animal experiments show effects on sperm motility. No available evidence of birth defects in humans. [Frazier] Chronic exposure to hexavalent chromium may cause mild to moderate liver injury. [ATSDR Case Studies # 4] Kidney injury has been reported in workers exposed to hexavalent chromium compounds; [ACGIH] Asthma reported in printer, plater, welder, and tanner (chromium and nickel); [Malo] Allergic contact dermatitis in agricultural workers, construction workers, mechanics, and printers; [Marks]
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| Exposure Assessment |
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| BEI |
For chromium (VI), water-soluble fume: Total Cr in urine = 10 ug/g creatinine (increase during shift) or 30 ug/g creatinine at end of shift at end of workweek; Also, see ACGIH Notice of Intended Changes. |
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| Skin Designation (ACGIH) |
No |
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| Bioaccumulates |
Yes |
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| TLV (ACGIH) |
0.5 mg/m3 , as Cr(metal, Cr(III) inorganic compds), 0.05 mg/m3, as Cr(Cr(VI)water sol. inorganic compds), 0.01 mg/m3,as Cr(Cr(VI) water insol. inorganic compds) |
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| PEL (OSHA) |
1 mg/m3(metal), 0.5 mg/m3, as Cr(Cr(II) and Cr(III) inorganic compds), Ceiling(OSHA) = 0.1 mg/m3, as CrO3(Cr(VI)water sol. and insol. inorganic compds) |
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| IDLH (NIOSH) |
250 mg/m3,as Cr(metal and Cr(II)compds), 25 mg/m3, as Cr(Cr(III)compds) |
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| Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs |
The available toxicological data show no evidence that an acute exposure to a high concentration of chromium metal would impede escape or cause any irreversible health effects within 30 minutes. |
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| Explanatory Notes |
Melting Point = 3452°F; Boiling Point = 4788 degrees F; |
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| Half Life |
Blood: 24 days; body: initial elimination 1/2 life = 2-3 days; extended 1/2 life = 1 month; [TDR, p. 770] After chronic exposure, workers can have high levels of chromium in the urine for years. [ACGIH] |
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| Reference Link |
ATSDR - ToxFAQs - Chromium |
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| Adverse Effects |
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| Asthma |
Yes |
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| Lung Cancer |
Yes |
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| Dermatotoxin |
Skin Burns |
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| Skin Sensitizer |
Yes |
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| Hepatotoxin |
Hepatotoxin, Secondary |
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| Nephrotoxin |
Yes |
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| Reproductive Toxin |
Yes |
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| IARC Carcinogen |
Known Carcinogen, (Cr(VI) water sol. and insol. compds) |
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| Links to Other NLM Databases |
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| Health Studies |
Human Health Effects from Hazardous Substances Data Bank: CHROMIUM, ELEMENTAL CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS
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