Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Chromate poisoning from concrete work

Current posting:

A. I read the question about Tracie's husband's skin condition and wanted to reply. My husband, a concrete finisher for over 20 years, had started getting boils all over his body also, and multiple visits to the doctor and ER. I called poison control; they said he was in the second stage of concrete poisoning and said he can never be around it again or it will keep happening, so he had to quit his profession.

After a year or more the boils went away, but unfortunately a terrible nerve condition started happening to where his legs muscle spasm, his feet cramp burn and twitch, he is finally going to see a neurologist, but I am sure he has chromate poisoning. Also he had blood work to check for metals; we don't have results yet, but this has been a long hard road since he doesn't have any income. He had to file for disability but has won his case yet. Wet Portland Cement is highly dangerous.

Kellie Duncan
- Bonne Terre Missouri
April 5, 2022

A. My husband worked in concrete for over twenty years he started developing sores puss filled pockets as they oozed out there was actually grey concrete and small string like fibers coming out of them, I called poison control they said he has chromate poisoning and to never be around Wet Portland Cement again, which he had to quit he also had one by his eye that sent him ambulanced to the hospital with a 5 day stay, if the infection would of gotten in his eye it would of went to his brain and would of caused him to loose his speech, very scary, he was put on lots of antibiotics, and it finally went away, he then continued to get the boils two years after not being around the cement, now unfortunately he has developed a neurology problem and can barely walk, now we are waiting on blood work to come back from metals and hexavalent chromate. We have been through this for over 3 years.

Kellie Duncan
Caregiver - Bonne Terre, Missouri
April 10, 2022

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⇩ Closely related postings, oldest first ⇩

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Q. 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, Ohio
2003

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Q. 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 a 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 him 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, Florida
2005

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Q. 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, Florida
2005

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Q. 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 antibiotic 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, Arizona
2005

Q. 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 Internet about it.

Thanks,

Kathy Horn
- Kalispell, Montana
2005

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Q. I am a homeowner that purchased 10 yards 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, long sleeve 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, Maryland
2006

A. 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 [in bulk on eBay or Amazon] to use at work. If hands dry out use hand cream.

John hixon
- Laurel Hill, Florida
2007