Danger of inhaling chromium from chrome stripping operation

via private e-mail to 'Name withheld by request--

Apologies but we're not in a position to offer free confidential consulting. Further, there is at least a casual "peer review" aspect to public posting that is often beneficial because all the world can see and publicly disagree if they feel a posted answer is questionable or wrong. Sorry, and thank you for your understanding.

A. Sorry, but simple 'yes or no' questions are a genuine rarity in the real world, and your original question was abstract and not necessarily recognizable as a concern about your health.

When you fear that "the plating industry" is hiding something, you probably need to define who comprises "the plating industry". I know that I am not trying to hide anything: for example, with regard to chrome specifically, please see www.finishing.com/editorial/noontime971201.html, where I make my feelings abundantly clear.
Nor is my partner, Tom Pullizzi, in favor of hiding things; see, www.finishing.com/editorial/noontime980422.html

As for whether there was hex chrome in the cleaning solution, yes, there usually is--that's what turns it yellow. I cannot know exactly what you were doing, nor could I responsibly hazard even a wild guess at the exposure levels you saw -- but exposure badges can be worn to determine the exposure.

If hydrogen bubbles are released (i.e., if the process is electrolytic), then some solution can be released in a ginger ale or champagne fashion. If not, then evaporated steam coming off a tank is usually just water--that's how the distillation process works. I can say that based on my limited personal knowledge, I would probably feel reasonably comfortable working around an alkaline stripping tank for chrome, but I personally feel uncomfortable working around chrome plating tanks, and try not to do it unless I have assured myself that the ventilation system is first rate.

There is a tremendous body of knowledge about hexavalent chromium, a lot of it available on the net. Try an EPA site or www.nmfrc.org. I don't know whether I think you ought to call an OSHA hotline, or a doctor for any kind of tests, or what. I'd like to hear some other opinions.

A. Personal opinion!

Some amount of chrome is going to come off of any process that generates gas bubbles. The question is how much, not if.

Any plating or stripping tank should have a good ventilation system. You should not be having any significant amount of chrome coming out of the stack based on CT's fence line standards.

OSHA has PELs. The allowable amount is a time weighted number. If your job is to stand over the tank all day running part after part, the allowable amount per cu meter of air will be rather small. If you spend half an hour a day near the tank, the limit will be much higher.

I personally have found a distressing amount of shops that do not have adequate ventilation. Many could drastically improve the efficiency of their system with strategically placed shields that do not interfere with the work. A 4' backsplash of thin PVC can improve the capture rate of the mist by a significant percentage.

Ideal is no chrome in the air. That is not realistic. Intelligent exhaust systems do not have to be expensive relative to a poor one.

A. Personal opinion!

This letter aroused some fairly strong feelings in me. I started out in this industry as a lab tech, I am a chemist by training and education. I moved up to a QA Manager/Technical Services Manager position with Environmental responsibilities, and then to Facilities and Plant Management. I have worked for sweatshops where people were numbers, and for very progressive companies.

I think that the owner/management would want to know your concerns. Depending upon the motivation, they might want to know for reasons of financial liability i.e., Worker's Comp/lawsuits or for humanistic reasons, your safety. Either way, I think you should speak with the appropriate owner/manager and express your concerns. There are enough potential issues that they will want to help find out. An air pump and confidential evaluation from a University Industrial Engineering Graduate Class is available in almost every state. They also have access to extensive literature.

Most companies would rather you approach them first rather than OSHA. I'm positive your company will want to know once you bring it up.

If you are uncomfortable after speaking with your management, whether for reasons of retaliation or for reasons of distrust, life is too short to be worried about your job. If you are the owner/management there are a lot of avenues for finding this out. However, I don't think that the plating industry is hiding anything; if anything most owner/operators, consultants, sales reps., are very aware of potential liabilities. They usually err on the side of caution, and do their best to steer clear of anything which will harm their employees, or cost them money.

Nationwide the economy is such that it is fairly easy to find work, especially in this field. It is very hard to find good experienced people.

I have worked in plants with chrome, in plating and other tank solutions which were without what I thought was adequate ventilation or fume suppressants. However, when audited by OSHA with air pumps still passed.

In your case, personally I think you are not picking hazardous amounts of hexavalent chrome. In order for any heavy metal to affect you, it has to get into your system, whether through inhalation, skin absorption or eating/drinking. Assuming you are taking precautions such as proper PPE, i.e., rubber gloves [on eBay or Amazon], boots, apron [on eBay or Amazon] , not eating, drinking or smoking while around the operation, washing your hands, etc., the only opportunity is inhalation from the steam.

I would not be uncomfortable working around what you describe either, but the only way you will really know is to have a professional evaluate your specific situation. Hexavalent chrome is such a red flag nowadays that you will find a ton of literature about it; I wouldn't be surprised if your stripping process has not already been evaluated somewhere. I think you are taking the right step in that you are asking questions if you are concerned.