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Agent Name

Chromic acid and chromates

CAS
Number

7738-94-5, varies

Formula

Cr-O3, varies

Major Category

Metals

Synonyms

Chromic acid (CrO3): Chromic anhydride,
Chromic oxide, Chromium(VI) oxide (1:3), Chromium trioxide;
Synonyms of chromates (i.e., chromium(VI) compounds) such as
zinc chromate vary depending upon the specific compound.

Category

Metals, Inorganic Compounds

Description

CrO3: Dark-red, odorless flakes or powder.
[Note: Often used in an aqueous solution (H2CrO4)]

Sources/Uses

Used in electroplating, metal cleaning,
leather tanning, and photography; [HSDB]

Comments

Classified as a water-soluble, hexavalent
chromium compound; [ACGIH] Chronic exposure to hexavalent
chromium may produce evidence of kidney and liver injury.
[ATSDR Case Studies # 4] Can cause second and third degree
burns on short contact; [CHRIS] Highly corrosive to skin;
[Quick CPC] Occupational asthma documented in a cement floor
worker, plater, and other workers exposed to chromate salt;
[Malo] See "Chromium."

Exposure
Assessment

Skin
Designation (ACGIH)

No

Bioaccumulates

Yes

TLV
(ACGIH)

0.05 mg/m3, as Cr

PEL
(OSHA)

Ceiling(OSHA) = 0.1 mg/m3, as CrO3

IDLH
(NIOSH)

15 mg/m3, as Cr(VI)

Excerpts from Documentation
for IDLHs

Human data: A worker exposed for several
days to concentrations of chromic acid mist of about 20 to 30
mg/m3 (equivalent to about 10 to 15 mg Cr(VI)/m3) experienced
cough, headache, dyspnea, and substernal pain; the signs
persisted for 2 weeks [ILO 1971]. Another man working on the
same process was similarly but less severely affected [ILO
1971].

Explanatory Notes

The hyperlink to the Emergency Response
Guidebook is for "chromic acid, solution."

Reference Link

International
Chemical Safety Cards (WHO/IPCS/ILO)

Flammability
(NFPA)

0:
will not burn

Adverse
Effects

Asthma

Yes

Lung Cancer

Yes

Dermatotoxin

Skin Burns

Skin
Sensitizer

Yes

Hepatotoxin

Hepatotoxin, Secondary

Nephrotoxin

Yes

Reproductive
Toxin

Yes

IARC
Carcinogen

Known Carcinogen

Links to Other
NLM Databases

Health Studies

Human Health Effects from Hazardous
Substances Data Bank: CHROMIUM
COMPOUNDS

Toxicity Information

Search
TOXNET

Chemical Information

Search
ChemIDplus

Biomedical References

Search
PubMed

Related
Information in Haz-Map

Diseases

Diseases associated with
exposure to this agent:

Asthma,
occupational

Chromium,
chronic toxic effect

Contact
dermatitis, allergic

Lung
cancer

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk
of exposure:

Acid
and Alkali Cleaning of Metals

Electroplating

Photographic
Processing

Tanning
Leather

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Last updated:
July, 2007