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Q&As since 1989


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Chrome-chromium spill

Hi I recently purchased an old Warner plating that came with several jars of gold, silver, chromium and copper. The jars contents were dried up but still in powder form. In shipping the chromium, gold and silver jars were broken. The powders were all over everywhere. I cleaned it up with no rubber gloves, a vacuum and a wet paper towel. Now I'm told the chromium is highly contaminated that if a beaker was spilled on my garage floor it would contaminate all wells within 2 city blocks please tell me that I'm not going to die. and everyone else that enters my kitchen thank you,

Brett [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Coinjock, North Carolina
2006

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Chromium is not plutonium, Brett, you're not going to die. If your fingers aren't badly stained brown, you probably were exposed to very little chromium; even if they were, it's not anything to worry about. People have retired from life-long careers in chromium plating.

Yes a large beaker of full-strength chromium plating solution may be enough to contaminate the wells in a 2-block radius. I would immediately throw away that vacuum cleaner bag instead of having the dust escape into your house, or better yet suggest that you try to turn the bag and the remnants from the broken jars into the county next time they have a hazardous waste collection. Sleep easy.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2006