Toxicity chromium compounds

Chromium compounds are toxic and should be handled with proper safeguards. 

Acute and Chronic Toxicity. Although chromium displays nine oxidation states, the low oxidation state compounds, -II to I, all require Special conditions for existence and have very short lifetimes in a normal environment. This is also tme for most organ ochromium compounds, ie, compounds containing Cr—C bonds. Chromium compounds that exhibit stabiUty under the usual ambient conditions are limited to oxidation states II, III, IV, V, and VI. Only Cr(III) and Cr(VI) compounds are produced in large quantities and are accessible to most of the population. Therefore, the toxicology of chromium compounds has been historically limited to these two states, and virtually all of the available information is about compounds of Cr(III) and/or Cr(VI) (59,104). However, there is some indication that Cr(V) may play a role in chromium toxicity (59,105—107). Reference 104 provides an overview and summary of the environmental, biological, and medical effects of chromium and chromium compounds as of the late 1980s. 

The primary routes of entry for animal exposure to chromium compounds are inhalation, ingestion, and, for hexavalent compounds, skin penetration. This last route is more important in industrial exposures. Most hexavalent chromium compounds are readily absorbed, are more soluble than trivalent chromium in the pH range 5 to 7, and react with cell membranes. Although hexavalent compounds are more toxic than those of Cr(III), an overexposure to compounds of either oxidation state may lead to inflammation and irritation of the eyes, skin, and the mucous membranes associated with the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. Skin ulcers and perforations of nasal septa have been observed in some industrial workers after prolonged exposure to certain hexavalent chromium compounds (108—110), ie, to chromic acid mist or sodium and potassium dichromate. 

Reproductive Toxicity. No data are available that impHcate either hexavalent or trivalent chromium compounds as reproductive toxins, unless exposure is by way of injection. The observed teratogenic effects of sodium dichromate(VI), chromic acid, and chromium (HI) chloride, adininistered by injection, as measured by dose-response relationships are close to the amount that would be lethal to the embryo, a common trait of many compounds (111). Reported teratogenic studies on hamsters (117,118), the mouse (119—121), and rabbits (122) have shown increased incidence of cleft palate, no effect, and testicular degeneration, respectively. Although the exposures for these experiments were provided by injections, in the final study (122) oral, inhalation, and dermal routes were also tried, and no testicular degeneration was found by these paths. 

Metal Finishing and Corrosion Control. The exceptional corrosion protection provided by electroplated chromium and the protective film created by applying chromium surface conversion techniques to many active metals, has made chromium compounds valuable to the metal finishing industry. Cr(VI) compounds have dominated the formulas employed for electroplating (qv) and surface conversion, but the use of Cr(III) compounds is growing in both areas because of the health and safety problems associated with hexavalent chromium and the low toxicity of trivalent chromium (see... 

The toxicity of chromium and inorganic chromium compounds Bis (chloromethylj ether... 

Yourfacility is involved in chrome plating of metal parts, which produces an aqueous plating waste that is treated on-site to recover chromium sludge. The effluent from the on-site treatment plant, which contains chromium compounds (a listed toxic chemical), is piped to a POTW. The chromium sludge is transferred to an off-site, private ly owned firm tor the recovery of the chromium. 

Although Cr(VI) oxidants are very versatile and efficient, they have one drawback, which becomes especially serious in larger-scale work the toxicity and environmental hazards associated with chromium compounds. The reagents are used in stoichiometric or excess amount and the Cr(III) by-products must be disposed of safely. 

Among warm-blooded organisms, hexavalent chromium was fatal to dogs in 3 months at 100 mg/kg in their food and killed most mammalian experimental animals at injected doses of 1 to 5 mg Cr/kg body weight, but it had no measurable effect on chickens at dietary levels of 100 mg/kg over a 32-day period. Trivalent chromium compounds were generally less toxic than hexavalent chromium compounds, but significant differences may occur in uptake of anionic and cationic CL3 species, and this difference may affect survival. 

All toxic materials were disposed of in accordance with "Prudent Practices for Disposal of Chemicals from Laboratories" National Academic Press Washington, DC, 1983. Particular care must be taken in the disposal of waste materials containing lead and chromium compounds. 

Many of the compounds formed by transition elements appear in various colors. Several are very toxic. Chromium, zinc, cobalt, nickel, and titanium are carcinogenic. 

Some research has shown that, even though most chromium compounds are toxic, a small trace of chromium is important for a healthy diet for humans. A deficiency produces diabeteslike symptoms, which can be treated with a diet of whole-grain cereal, liver, and brewers yeast. 

Chromium and certain chromium compounds are classified as substances known to be carcinogenic. ERA classifies chromium as a de minimis carcinogen, meaning that the minimum amount of the chemical set by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is considered to be carcinogenic. Chromium compounds vary greatly in their toxic and carcinogenic effects. Trivalent chromium compounds are considerably less toxic than the hexavalent compounds and are neither irritating nor corrosive. 

The presence of chromium may impose serious environmental problems, because of the known toxicity of Cr6+. For this reason attempts have been undertaken to develop methods that work without using chromium compounds (95). 

Replacement of hexavalent chromium with trivalent chromium offers important environmental advantages. Trivalent chromium is considerably less toxic than hexavalent. Trivalent systems use chromium concentrations that are typically two orders of magnitude less than in hexavalent systems. Thus, far less chromium enters the waste stream. Trivalent systems also generate few toxic air emissions, while hexavalent systems involve a reaction that produces hydrogen bubbles which entrain chromium compounds and carry them out of the baths. Trivalent chromium is readily precipitated from wastewater, while hexavalent chromium solutions must go through an additional step in a treatment system in which the chromium is reduced to its trivalent form before precipitation. It has been shown that trivalent chromium systems can successfully replace hexavalent ones for decorative chrome applications. Trivalent chromium systems are not suitable for hard chrome applications. More information regarding trivalent chromium plating can be obtained from Roy (1984), Robison (1978), Chementator (1982), and Smart (1983). 

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