Letter 34036

Hard chrome health problems  

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I've been an electroplater for 15 years and never had a problem with chrome solutions. I had a break of 4 years from plating work. I recently returned to the industry doing hard chrome using hard chromium bath HCR 710. I've started sneezing continuously and have developed chrome sores on my arms. What can be done to solve these health problems.

Paul Court
electroplater hardchrome - Perth, Wa, Australia

Have you returned to work at the same place, or may conditions be different at your new place of employment? Chrome plating baths should have fume suppressant and good ventilation.

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

No I owned my own business doing decorative chrome. I now work for a company doing hard chrome. We have ventilation but no mist balls in the solution. We are the only company in Aus that uses this particular solution. Is this solution prone to more health problems than others?

Paul Court
hard chromer - Perth, Wa, Austraila

It is the chrome content that is of concern, not whether the catalyst is sulfuric acid, fluorides, or proprietary non-etch catalysts. Chrome mists or "fumes" are generated in proportion to the electricity that goes into the plating bath, and hard chrome (heavy thicknesses) usually involves far more amp-hours than decorative chrome. Here in the U.S. the regulators consider hard chrome to require a more rigorous protocol for fume control. You need to contact the supplier of the chrome solution about a fume suppressant--not plastic balls: either a liquid that floats on top and contains the fumes, or reduces the surface tension of the solution so the chrome isn't carried out with the hydrogen bubbles. Chrome sores are serious business, and here in the U.S. it would be required that a doctor periodically do a blood check on you for chrome.

Ted Mooney finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

AFTER seeing a doctor about the dermatitis a good barrier cream may help. Wear gloves and wash exposed areas thoroughly after work.

Ted is right- there should be a surfactant in the chrome bath or a really good, up-to-current standards fume scrubber, not just ventilation. The scrubber should keep the room air below current standard PEL of 52 mg/dscm room air at the very least. With proper engineering controls such as the scrubber or surfactant, as well as the proper use of protective gear, life should improve.

Is there a nickel tank on-site? Even if you did not used to be allergic to nickel mists in the air, that can change! I would rule out other possibilities as well as looking in to the above suggestions.

Julie C Rogers
Rogers Consulting Services, LLC & I Do Sell Chemicals, Inc. - Phoenix/Tucson, Arizona, USA

We use a product called fumetrol(SPELLING MAY BE WRONG) on our chrome tanks and it works great to keep all the chrome "mists" from getting in the air..just a suggestion!!!

Kevin Proctor
- Elmira, NY, United States

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