Letter 21024

Chromate poisoning from concrete work [Ohio] 

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My son works in concrete. He developed a bad skin condition. He had a terrible time with the company they refused him workers compensation and gave him unemployment finally but he wants to know if this is life threatening and how can he get rid of it short of not working in concrete?

Terry Hopkins
- Chillicothe, OH

The skin problem is most likely an alkali burn due to the high pH of concrete, about 12.5 for cured, possibly higher for the fresh mixture. Some research has been done on concrete additives such as chromates, nitrates, etc. trying to prevent corrosion of reinforcing steel. I am not aware of any commercial usage.

Ken Vlach - Goleta, California

My husband has been doing concrete for the last 7 years and in the last 3 he has developed sores that develop into puss filled knots. It got so bad that one on his knee swelled to the size of 3 softballs and finally after 2 visits to the family doctor. then 1 24 hour trip to the emergency room. in which they admitted him but would not lance his leg to relieve the puss. dismissed him. another trip the following day to another emergency room in which I told the doctor to lance his leg or I would leave him there. they finally did. This was before the 3 trips we made to the dermatologist in which the results came back as staph infection..the antibiotic he was given ($450.00) did not work.

It has been an ongoing thing. he has them all over his arms. legs. one on his ear. chin. etc. There has to be something they are using in the concrete that makes me wonder if eventually this will cause homeowners to have reactions since this is what homes are built with. Kind of like lead and asbestos...??? I am at loss on what to do except he change his business but in the meantime other concrete workers are coming up with the same thing. Both of my children have gotten these (weird) since I sleep with him but have never gotten one. So. family doctor. dermatologist. and hospital visits have come up with nothing for a cure. I really think something should be looked into about this since I have noticed when I did research 2 years ago online there was basically nothing and now there are more people coming up with the same stuff in the concrete business. Any info or insight on this is welcomed.

Tracie Fulcher
Concrete - Winter Park, FL

My husband has been working in concrete for 18 years. His exposure may not have been as great as some because he works most of the time on the curb machine. But now he has started getting odd sores on his hands. They are raised little "knots" that look sort of like blood blisters at first, then they swell up more with puss, bleed, then scab over & heal. Usually about 7 days start to finish. Most of the time, they come out of nowhere, with no previous wound or irritation. He has about 4 or 5 sores at a time, each one at a different stage of development. However this week he scratched his wrist on something and one of the sores started coming up in the middle of it. I could understand a staph infection in the case of the scratch, but I don't understand how it could just come out of nowhere to cause a sore where nothing had been before. He says he's heard from others in the business that it looks like concrete poisoning & he has a doctors appointment scheduled soon. After scouring the internet, it is frustrating to not find any medical information on these sores. But with the number of complaints & inquiries I have seen posted in different places online it's obvious that something to do with concrete work DOES cause some type of sores... It would be nice if someone could get to the bottom of this. From what I have read the doctors are not any help. I would like to ask any others who have experienced this problem to email me with their details and perhaps we can find a doctor willing to help us all. Put "Concrete Poisoning" in the subject line. Thanks!

Kristi Ward
- DeLand, FL,USA

I do concrete for a living also, but am a driver that delivers it, I have started coming up with these sores, on my arms kind of look like a bug bite that has been itched and itched, I notice if I put a antibotic on them they go away, but just come back again, They are leaving scars on my arm, I am not sure to what they are? Could any one help me also?

Bridget Howell
concrete cement driver - Chandler, AZ, USA

Concrete poisoning, we are trying to find info on what it is and treatment. My son has sores on his fingers, is a stone mason. So far have found nothing on the interent about it.

Thanks,

Kathy Horn
- Kalispell, MT, USA

From:
Specialized Information Services
U.S. National Library of Medicine
Information about Portand Cement and health problems can be found from the Hazmap site.
Enter "Portand Cement" then click on "Agent"

http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/hazmap_generic?tbl=TblAgents&id=605

George Gallman
- Baker, LA, USA

I am a homeowner that purchased 10 yds. of concrete on a weekend to pour 3 concrete walls and I suffered severe chemical burns to my wrist, both knees, stomach and inside of my legs. It should be noted that I had lined sweatpants, longsleeve shirt, gloves and boots on unlike the others working with me that had no shirts and shorts on. The doctors treated it as a chemical burn; it has been 3 months and as I expected I have several scars. I did not expect to have recurrent outbreaks of little rashes almost similar to bug bites (that itch) like someone else has previously described. I am waiting to be seen by a reputable Dermatologist but I am skeptical that he will be helpful after having read several other entries. I am also looking for any other helpful information...Thanks.

Kelly Prihoda
- Pikesville, MD, USA

My husband, 55 years old, had worked in concrete and masonry most of his life until we discovered that he has concrete poisoning. He had begun developing blistering on his hands which broke and became painful sores. For several months after he stopped doing concrete work the sores continued. He tried antibiotic cream which helped heal the sores but new ones continued to appear. He tried vinegar, emu oil, vitamin e, but nothing worked. A friend developed a cream that is made of silver water, cocoa butter, and aloe. Her goal for making the cream was to cure his hands. Unbelieveably it worked. His hands completely healed and he has not gotten another blister since, except once. Recently he just moved a sack of concrete and the next day he had a new blister. So he put more cream on it. He stopped doing concrete work in November of 2005 and has been using the cream since. I have been after her to let me get on this website and let everyone know about it. Now she is ready to market it. You can order through customerservice@stickerblue.com. Let her know you heard about it at finishing.com.

I hope it helps everyone.

Michelle Gambino
- Wimberley, TX, USA

I want to answer or follow-up on this subject publicly (in non-commercial fashion).

 

I want the contact information to reach the inquirer privately.

 

I want to post a new question or inquiry of my own on a different subject.