Breathing small amounts of hexavalent chromium

even for long periods does not cause respiratory

tract irritation in most people. 

Some employees become allergic to hexavalent

chromium so that inhaling chromate compounds

can cause asthma symptoms such as wheezing

and shortness of breath.

How hexavalent chromium affects the skin

Some employees can also develop an allergic

skin reaction, called allergic contact dermatitis.

This occurs from handling liquids or solids containing hexavalent chromium. Once an employee

becomes allergic, brief skin contact causes

swelling and a red, itchy rash that becomes crusty

and thickened with prolonged exposure. Allergic

contact dermatitis is long-lasting and more severe

with repeated skin contact.

Direct skin contact with hexavalent chromium

can cause a non-allergic skin irritation. Contact

with non-intact skin can also lead to chrome

ulcers. These are small crusted skin sores with

a rounded border. They heal slowly and leave

scars.

How employees can be exposed to

hexavalent chromium 

Employees can inhale airborne hexavalent

chromium as a dust, fume or mist while:

• producing chromate pigments and powders;

chromic acid; chromium catalysts, dyes, and

coatings 

• working near chrome electoplating

• welding and hotworking stainless steel, high

chrome alloys and chrome-coated metal

• applying and removing chromate-containing

paints and other surface coatings. 

Some major industrial sources of hexavalent

chromium are:

• chromate pigments in dyes, paints, inks, and

plastics

• chromates added as anti-corrosive agents to

paints, primers and other surface coatings

• chrome plating by depositing chromium metal

onto an item’s surface using a solution of

chromic acid

• particles released during smelting of ferrochromium ore

• fume from welding stainless steel or nonferrous chromium alloys

• impurity present in portland cement.

How hexavalent chromium can harm employees

Workplace exposure to hexavalent chromium

may cause the following health effects:

• lung cancer in workers who breathe airborne

hexavalent chromium 

• irritation or damage to the nose, throat, and

lung (respiratory tract) if hexavalent chromium

is breathed at high levels

• irritation or damage to the eyes and skin if

hexavalent chromium contacts these organs in

high concentrations.

How hexavalent chromium affects the nose,

throat and lungs

Breathing in high levels of hexavalent chromium

can cause irritation to the nose and throat.

Symptoms may include runny nose, sneezing,

coughing, itching and a burning sensation. 

Repeated or prolonged exposure can cause sores

to develop in the nose and result in nosebleeds. If

the damage is severe, the nasal septum (wall separating the nasal passages) develops a hole in it

(perforation).

FactSheet

Health Effects of Hexavalent Chromium

Hexavalent chromium is a toxic form of the element chromium. Hexavalent

chromium compounds are man-made and widely used in many different industries.
Skin exposure can occur during direct handling

of hexavalent chromium-containing solutions,

coatings, and cements.

Steps OSHA has taken to protect

employees from health hazards caused

by hexavalent chromium

The new OSHA workplace standard requires

employers to:

• limit eight-hour time-weighted average hexavalent chromium exposure in the workplace to

5 micrograms or less per cubic meter of air.

• perform periodic monitoring at least every 6

months if initial monitoring shows employee

exposure at or above the action level (2.5

micrograms per cubic meter of air calculated

as an 8-hour time-weighted average).

• provide appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment when there is likely to be a

hazard present from skin or eye contact.

• implement good personal hygiene and housekeeping practices to prevent hexavalent

chromium exposure.

• prohibit employee rotation as a method to

achieve compliance with the exposure limit

(PEL).

• provide respiratory protection as specified in

the standard.

• make available medical examinations to

employees within 30 days of initial assignment, annually, to those exposed in an emergency situation, to those who experience signs

or symptoms of adverse health effects associated with hexavalent chromium exposure, to

those who are or may be exposed at or above

the action level for 30 or more days a year, and

at termination of employment.

U.S. Department of Labor

www.osha.gov

(800) 321-OSHA

For more complete information:

DSG 7/2006