PETRO GREEN (LCAII)
SODIUM DICHROMATE
CASRN: 10588-01-9
The title chemical is a hexavalent chromium compound.
http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-bin/sis/search/f?./temp/~AAA0gai8J:1
Best Sections
Artificial Pollution Sources :
Air emissions containing chromium result from
the following major industries: paper mills, organic & inorganic petro-chemicals,
fertilizers, steel and metal foundries, motor vehicles, glass, cement, asbestos
manufacture, textile mills and seam generation power plants.
Artificial Pollution Sources :
Wastewater treatment sludge from the
production of chrome yellow, orange, and green
pigments, chrome oxide green pigments,
molybdate orange, zinc yellow, and iron blue pigments, and oven residue from
chrome oxide green pigments contain
toxic metals including hexavalent chromium. An est 4300 metric tons of sludge
are generated per yr (50-60% of this in 1980 or 2100-2600 lb). These wastes are
frequently disposed of in unlined lagoons and landfills or dumped in the open
creating a potential for toxic environmental contamination. /Total chromium/
General Manufacturing Information :
Calcination of sodium dichromate with sulfur
or carbon is used to produce anhydrous chrome oxide for chrome oxide green
pigments. Wash waters contain unreacted hexavalent chromate materials. Hydrated
chrome oxide is made by reacting sodium dichromate with boric acid, also used as
green pigments. Oven residues contain
hexavalent and trivalent chromium, as do wash waters from boric acid recovery
processes.
FDA Requirements :
The color additive FD and C Green
no 3 ... shall be free from impurities other than those named /which include
chromium, not more than 50 ppm/ to the extent that such other impurities may be
avoided by current manufacturing practice. /Chromium (as Cr) salts/
Major Uses :
CHEM INT FOR CHROME PIGMENTS - EG, FOR CHROME GREEN
Major Uses : COLORANT FOR GLASS - EG, GREEN
BOTTLE GLASS
Ecotoxicity Values :
Inhibited growth of Selenastrum capricornutum
(green alga) 62 ug/l as Cr(VI). /Cr
(VI)/
Human Health Effects:
Evidence for Carcinogenicity:
Classification of carcinogenicity: 1) evidence
in humans: sufficient; 2) evidence in animals: sufficient. Overall summary
evaluation of carcinogenic risk to humans is group 1: /As a group, hexavalent
chromium compound/ are carcinogenic to humans. No evaluation was given for
sodium dichromate. /From table, hexavalent chromium cmpd/
A1. A1= Confirmed human carcinogen. (1994) /Water-soluble Cr VI compounds, not
otherwise classified/
WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE CHARACTERIZATION: Under the
current guidelines (1986), Cr(VI) is classified as Group A - known human
carcinogen by the inhalation route of exposure. Carcinogenicity by the oral
route of exposure cannot be determined and is classified as Group D. Under the
proposed guidelines (1996), Cr(VI) would be characterized as a known human
carcinogen by the inhalation route of exposure on the following basis.
Hexavalent chromium is known to be carcinogenic in humans by the inhalation
route of exposure. Results of occupational epidemiological studies of
chromium-exposed workers are consistent across investigators and study
populations. Dose-response relationships have been established for chromium
exposure and lung cancer. Chromium-exposed workers are exposed to both Cr(III)
and Cr(VI) compounds. Because only Cr(VI) has been found to be carcinogenic in
animal studies, however, it was concluded that only Cr(VI) should be classified
as a human carcinogen. Animal data are consistent with the human carcinogenicity
data on hexavalent chromium. Hexavalent chromium compounds are carcinogenic in
animal bioassays, producing the following tumor types: intramuscular injection
site tumors in rats and mice, intrapleural implant site tumors for various Cr(VI)
compounds in rats, intrabronchial implantation site tumors for various Cr(VI)
compounds in rats and subcutaneous injection site sarcomas in rats. In vitro
data are suggestive of a potential mode of action for hexavalent chromium
carcinogenesis. Hexavalent chromium carcinogenesis may result from the formation
of mutagenic oxidatitive DNA lesions following intracellular reduction to the
trivalent form. Cr(VI) readily passes through cell membranes and is rapidly
reduced intracellularly to generate reactive Cr(V) and Cr(IV) intermediates and
reactive oxygen species. A number of potentially mutagenic DNA lesions are
formed during the reduction of Cr(VI). Hexavalent chromium is mutagenic in
bacterial assays, yeasts and V79 cells, and Cr(VI) compounds decrease the
fidelity of DNA synthesis in vitro and produce unscheduled DNA synthesis as a
consequence of DNA damage. Chromate has been shown to transform both primary
cells and cell lines. HUMAN CARCINOGENICITY DATA: Occupational exposure to
chromium compounds has been studied in the chromate production, chromeplating
and chrome pigment, ferrochromium production, gold mining, leather tanning and
chrome alloy production industries. Workers in the chromate industry are exposed
to both trivalent and hexavalent compounds of chromium. Epidemiological studies
of chromate production plants in Japan, Great Britain, West Germany, and the
United States have revealed a correlation between occupational exposure to
chromium and lung cancer, but the specific form of chromium responsible for the
induction of cancer was not identified ... Studies of chrome pigment workers
have consistently demonstrated an association between occupational chromium
exposure (primarily Cr(VI)) and lung cancer. Several studies of the
chromeplating industry have demonstrated a positive relationship between cancer
and exposure to chromium compounds. ANIMAL CARCINOGENICITY DATA: Animal data are
consistent with the findings of human epidemiological studies of hexavalent
chromium ... /Chromium (VI)/
Human Toxicity Excerpts:
FATAL POISONING OF AN INFANT FROM SODIUM
DICHROMATE FOLLOWED BY TREATMENT WITH IM DIMERCAPROL, IV FOLIC ACID,
HEMODIALYSIS, & EXCHANGE TRANSFUSION IS REPORTED.
HUMAN PERIPHERAL LYMPHOCYTES CULTURED IN VITRO FOR 72 HR IN WATER SOLUBLE
COMPOUNDS CONTAINING CHROMIUM (6+) (AS SODIUM DICHROMATE). CONCN FROM 0.1-50
INCR PERCENTAGE OF CHROMOSOME ABERRATIONS. CHROMATID ABERRATIONS WERE PREVALENT.
SODIUM DICHROMATE IS A MARKED CLASTOGENIC POWER.
Sixty-nine S-12 (post mitochondrial) preparations of human lung (43 of
peripherial lung parenchyma and 26 bronchial preparations) were assayed for
their ability to activate procarcinogens to mutagenic metabolites in the Ames
test or to lower the mutagenic response of direct-acting compounds. ... These
preparations produced ... a pronounced loss of activity of sodium dichromate.
... PULMONARY DISEASE IN WORKERS EXPOSED TO FERROCHROME ALLOYS WITH CHROMIUM
LEVELS IN AIR OF 0.27 MG/CU M REPORTED. OTHER DUSTS & FUMES WERE PRESENT,
HOWEVER, IN THIS PLANT. /TOTAL CHROMIUM/
... HIGH RELATIVE FREQUENCY OF DEATH FROM RESP
CANCER AMONG WORKERS IN CHROMATE PRODUCING INDUSTRY /REPORTED/. AMONG 193 DEATHS
FROM ALL CAUSES AT 6 CHROMATE-PRODUCING PLANTS IN USA, 21.8% RESULTED FROM RESP
CANCER, AS COMPARED TO AN EXPECTED FREQUENCY OF 1.4% IN CONTROL GROUP FROM OTHER
INDUSTRIES. ... IN ADDITION, CLINICAL OBSERVATIONS FROM GERMANY HAVE SUGGESTED
POSSIBLE RELATION OF LUNG CANCER TO CHROME PIGMENT INDUSTRY ... /CHROMATES/
A CYTOGENETIC EXAMINATION OF WORKERS EXPOSED TO CHROMIUM(VI) COMPOUNDS BY
INHALATION OF AEROSOLS REVEALED THAT EXPOSURE CAUSED AN INCREASE IN CHROMOSOMAL
ABERRATIONS IN PERIPHERAL BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES (3.6-9.4% CELLS WITH ABERRATIONS
COMPARED WITH 1.9% IN UNEXPOSED CONTROLS). ... AN INCREASE IN CHROMOSOMAL
ABERRATIONS /ALSO OCCURRED/ IN PERIPHERAL BLOOD LEUKOCYTES OF WORKERS HANDLING
DIFFERENT CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS. /CHROMIUM(VI) COMPOUNDS/
PRINCIPAL TOXIC EFFECTS OF CHROMIUM FROM INDUSTRIAL POINT OF VIEW ARE EXERTED ON
SKIN, NASAL MUCOUS MEMBRANES & LUNG. SYSTEMIC EFFECTS HAVE BEEN RARELY
DESCRIBED IN INDUST WORKERS BUT LESIONS OF KIDNEYS ... OCCURRED IN NON-INDUST
POPULATION FOLLOWING INGESTION OR EXTERNAL APPLICATION OF CHROMIUM CMPD. ...
LARGE DOSES OF CHROMATES ARE FOLLOWED BY ALBUMINURIA WITH DESQUAMATED CELLS,
& KIDNEYS SHOW HYPEREMIA, FATTY DEGENERATION & NECROSIS ... /CHROMATES/
CORROSIVE BECAUSE OF ... OXIDIZING POTENCY. ... IF INGESTED, VIOLENT
GASTROENTERITIS, SEVERE CIRCULATORY COLLAPSE AND TOXIC NEPHRITIS MAY ENSUE.
/CHROMATE SALTS/
IF INGESTED, VIOLENT GASTROENTERITIS WITH CHOLERA-LIKE STOOLS, PERIPHERAL
VASCULAR COLLAPSE, VERTIGO, MUSCLE CRAMPS, COMA, HEMORRHAGIC DIATHESIS, FEVER,
LIVER DAMAGE ... METHEMOGLOBINEMIA IS PROBABLY SECONDARY TO INTRAVASCULAR
HEMOLYSIS AS WITH CHLORATE SALTS. /SOL DICHROMATE SALTS/
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO CHROMIUM CMPD (CR(6+)) CAUSES DERMATITIS, PENETRATING
ULCERS ON HANDS & FOREARMS, PERFORATION OF NASAL SEPTUM, & INFLAMMATION
OF LARYNX & LIVER. /HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM CMPD/
Symptoms /of exposure/: respiratory irritations; nasal septum irritations;
leukocytosis, leukopenia, monocytosis, eosinophilia; eye injury, conjunctivitis;
skin ulcers, sensitization dermatitis. /Chromic acid and chromates (as CrO3)/
Target organs /which are affected include/ blood, lung, respiratory system,
liver, kidneys, eyes, and skin. /Chromic acid and chromates (as CrO3)/
Potential symptoms as a result of exposure /to chromium, chromic, chromous salts
(as Cr)/: sensitive dermatitis. /Chromium, chromic, chromous salts (as Cr)/
WHEN ... HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS ARE DEPOSITED ON THE BROKEN SKIN, A
DEEPLY PENETRATING ROUND HOLE MAY DEVELOP. ... FAVORED SITES FOR ULCER
DEVELOPMENT ARE THE NAILROOT AREAS, OVER THE KNUCKLES AND FINGERWEBS, ON THE
BACK OF THE HANDS, AND ON THE FOREARM. SOMETIMES THESE ULCERS ARE DESCRIBED AS
PAINFUL, BUT MOST OF THEM ARE PAINLESS. SEVERE ULCERATIVE CHANGES PENETRATING TO
JOINTS HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED. THE ULCER HEALS SLOWLY AND MAY PERSIST FOR MONTHS.
THE ULCER DOES NOT SEEM TO BEAR ANY RELATIONSHIP TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALLERGIC
SENSITIZATION TO CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS. /HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS/
EXPOSURE TO CHROMATE PIGMENTS MAY BE RELATED TO INCR INCIDENCE OF BRONCHIAL
CANCER (3 YR MIN EXPOSURE). POSSIBILITY OF CONTRIBUTING EFFECT OF TOBACCO
SMOKING. /CHROMATE PIGMENT/
THERE IS EXCESSIVE RISK OF LUNG CANCER AMONG WORKERS IN CHROMATE-PRODUCING
INDUSTRY. IT IS LIKELY THAT EXPOSURE TO 1 OR MORE CHROMIUM CMPD IS RESPONSIBLE,
BUT IDENTITY OF THIS OR THESE IS NOT KNOWN. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT
NON-OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO CHROMIUM CONSTITUTES CANCER HAZARD. /CHROMIUM &
CHROMIUM CMPD/
ALTHOUGH THE AVAILABLE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL EVIDENCE DOES NOT PERMIT A CLEAR
DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE RELATIVE CARCINOGENICITY OF CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS OF
DIFFERENT OXIDATION STATES OR SOLUBILITIES, IT APPEARS THAT EXPOSURE TO A
MIXTURE OF CHROMIUM (VI) COMPOUNDS OF DIFFERENT SOLUBILITIES (AS FOUND IN THE
CHROMATE PRODUCTION INDUSTRY) CARRIES THE GREATEST RISK TO HUMANS. /CHROMIUM
& CHROMIUM CMPD/
THE PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO CHROMIUM & ITS CMPD ARE WIDE & VARIED,
BECAUSE ASSOC WITH EACH OF THE 3 CHROMIUM VALENCIES, 2+, 3+, & 6+, ARE
DIFFERENT TOXICOLOGIC POTENTIALS. FURTHER, WITHIN EACH VALENCY GROUP, TOXICITY
VARIES ACCORDING TO SOLUBILITY. /CHROMIUM & CHROMIUM CMPD/
There are few acute toxicity studies of oral chromium exposure. The oral dose
which will cause death in humans has been estimated to be 1-3 g of chromium(VI).
... Oral chromium toxicity is probably a result of GI bleeding rather than
systemic poisoning. /Chromium (VI)/
PRINCIPAL MANIFESTATION OF CHROMIUM POISONING IS IRRITATION OR CORROSION. ACUTE
POISONING: (FROM INGESTION.) DIZZINESS, INTENSE THIRST, ABDOMINAL PAIN,
VOMITING, SHOCK, & OLIGURIA OR ANURIA. DEATH IS FROM UREMIA. /CHROMIUM(VI)/
CHRONIC POISONING: (FROM INHALATION OR SKIN CONTACT.) REPEATED SKIN CONTACT
LEADS TO INCAPACITATING ECZEMATOUS DERMATITIS WITH EDEMA, & ULCERATION WHICH
HEALS SLOWLY. BREATHING ... FUMES OVER LONG PERIODS CAUSES PAINLESS ULCERATION,
BLEEDING, & PERFORATION OF NASAL SEPTUM ACCOMPANIED BY FOUL NASAL DISCHARGE.
/CHROMIUM(VI)/
CHRONIC POISONING: ... CONJUNCTIVITIS, LACRIMATION, & ACUTE HEPATITIS WITH
JAUNDICE ... ALSO ... OBSERVED. FINDINGS IN ACUTE HEPATITIS INCL NAUSEA,
VOMITING, LOSS OF APPETITE, & ENLARGED, TENDER LIVER. /CHROMIUM(VI)/
CHRONIC POISONING: ... INCIDENCE OF LUNG CANCER IS INCR UP TO 15 TIMES NORMAL IN
WORKERS EXPOSED TO DUST OF CHROMITE, CHROMIC OXIDE, & CHROMIUM ORES. /CHROMIUM(VI)/
LARGE DOSES OF CHROMATES ARE FOLLOWED BY ALBUMINURIA WITH DESQUAMATED CELLS,
& KIDNEYS SHOW HYPEREMIA, FATTY DEGENERATION & NECROSIS ... /CHROMIUM/
THE (6+) COMPOUNDS OF CHROMIUM CAUSE BOTH PRIMARY SKIN IRRITATION AND
SENSITIZATION. ...GENERALIZED BRONCHOSPASM /OCCURS WITH DUST OR MIST
INHALATION/... IN A FEW CASES, SENSITIZATION OCCURS RESULTING IN TYPICAL
ASTHMATIC ATTACKS, WHICH RECUR ON SUBSEQUENT EXPOSURE. /CHROMIUM (6+) COMPOUNDS/
Effects on the upper respiratory tract have been observed in workers in
chromium-related industries. The major effects of chromium on this system
include ulceration of the nasal septum, with subsequent perforation, and chronic
rhinitis and pharangitis. ... Approximately one-half to four-fifths of the
workers in chromate plants had perforated nasal septa, at levels of exposure
that approached 1 mg/cu m. ... Chromic acid levels exceeding 0.1 mg/cu m also
caused perforated septums in some workers. /Chromates/
Allergic contact dermatitis may arise from exposure to either trivalent or
hexavalent chromium, although hexavalent chromium is responsible for most of the
reported cases. Cr(VI) penetrates undamaged skin, and subsequently reduces to
Cr(III) which combines with proteins or other skin components to form a whole
skin allergen. /Hexavalent chromium/
The strong oxidizing potential of chromium(VI) compounds explain much of their
irritating and toxic properties.
A wide range of other respiratory effects have also been reported in workers
exposed to chromium compounds. German investigators have reported that prolonged
inhalation of chromate(VI) dust resulted in chronic irritation of the
respiratory tract, and congestion and hyperemia, chronic rhinitis, congestion of
the larynx, polyps of the upper respiratory tract, chronic inflammation of the
lung, emphysema, tracheitis, chronic bronchitis, chronic pharyngitis, and
perivascular lung markings, X-ray observations included enlargement of the hilar
region and lymph nodes, increase in peribronchial and perivascular lung
markings, and adhesions of the diaphragm. /Hexavalent chromium/
The deaths of 12 patients following application to the skin of antiscabies
ointment containing chromium(VI) were reported. Necrosis at the sites of
application and nausea, vomiting, shock, and coma occurred. Albumin and blood
were found in the urine; autopsies revealed tubular necrosis and hyperemia of
the kidneys. /Hexavalent chromium/
The frequency of sister chromatid exchange were examined in lymphocytes of 24
chromium platers and 24 office workers matched in terms of sex, age, and smoking
habits. The chromium platers had worked for an average of 11.6 + or - 7.5 years.
The results indicated no significant differences in sister chromatid exchange
frequencies between the two groups. Urinary chromium levels of chromium platers
averaged 13.1 ug/l; chromium was not detected in the urine of controls. A
correlation between urinary chromium concentrations and sister chromatid
exchange frequency in chromium platers was not observed. /Chromium compounds/
Three periods of nausea were noted in a
volunteer who drank a 10 ppm solution of chromium(VI) as his only fluid for 15
days. A total of 235 mg chromium(VI) was ingested. The study was continued for
14 more days at chromium(VI) concentrations of 2.5-5 ppm. Mild nausea occurred
when the subject drank a 5 ppm soluton on an empty stomach; this did not occur
at 2.5-3.5 ppm. /Hexavalent chromium/
Chromate manufacture workers showed perforated nasal septums from 0.005-0.17
mg/cu m Cr(VI) exposure 8 hr/day: 39.3% of those exposed 0.5-3 yr, 55.4% of
those exposed 3-10 yr, 69.6% of those exposed over 10 yr. Also, 10 confirmed
cases of pulmonary cancer resulted from 0.03-1.1 mg/cu m for 4-24 yr. Death from
respiratory cancer was increased 29 times for exposed individuals of all ages
versus non-exposed, increased 40 times for ages 15-44, 30 times for ages 45-55
and 20 times for ages 55-74. /Cr(VI)/
A family drank water containing 1-25 ppm Chromium(VI) for three years with no
deleterious effects, although drinking water containing 5 ppm or more of Cr(VI)
has been known to cause nausea when consumed on an empty stomach. /Cr(VI)/
In a study of British chromate producing facilities, 724 workers exposed to
0.4-17,000 ug Cr(VI)/cu m, 3.6 times as many workers died of lung cancer as
expected in general population of England and Wales. /Cr(VI)/
Hexavalent chromium irritates mucous membranes
causing sneezing, rhinorrhea, irritation, redness of throat, and generalized
bronchiospasm. Sensitization may develop resulting in asthmatic attacks even at
low exposure levels. /Hexavalent chromium/
Prolonged inhalation of chromate dust produces
chronic respiratory irritation with hyperemia, chronic catarrh, congestion of
larynx, polyps of upper resp tract, chronic inflammation of lung, emphysema,
tracheitis, chronic bronchitis, chronic pharyngitis, and bronchopneumonia.
/Chromate dust/
Oral ingestion of Chromium(VI) may cause intense gastrointestinal irritation,
violent epigastric pain, nausea, vomiting, severe diarrhea, hemorrhage,
circulatory collapse, unconsciousness, and death. /Cr(VI)/
The lethal oral dose of Chromium(VI) (single
dose basis) for a 14 yr old boy was estimated to be 10 mg/kg body weight. /Cr(VI)/
Chromium(III), the naturally occurring form,
has low toxicity due to poor membrane permeability and noncorrosivity, while
Cr(VI), from industrial emissions, is highly toxic due to strong oxidation
characteristics and ready membrane permeability. /Cr(III) and Cr(VI)/
... A case of hepatic injury /was reported/ in
a woman who had been employed for 5 years at a chromium-plating factory. She was
hospitalized with jaundice and was found to be excreting large amounts of
chromium. A liver biopsy revealed microscopic changes. Examination of eight
coworkers revealed that four were excreting significant amounts of chromium.
Liver biopsies and hepatic function tests of three workers who had been exposed
to chromic acid mists for 1-4 years revealed mild to moderate abnormalities.
/Chromium and chromium cmpd/
Soluble salts of hexavalent chromium are corrosive and have produced skin
ulceration, dermatitis, perforation of the nasal septum, respiratory
sensitization and lung cancer. Acute poisoning with soluble salts usually
results in local tissue necrosis and severe kidney damage. Electroplaters and
paint pigment workers who expressed symptoms of cough, indigestion and dermal
itching were found to have urine chromium concentrations of 91-1116 ug/l.
/Soluble salts of hexavalent chromium/
Skin, Eye and Respiratory Irritations:
Inhalation of dust or mist causes respiratory
irritation sometimes resembling asthma; Nasal septal perforation may occur.
Contact with eyes or skin produces local irritation ... .
Chromic acid mist & chromate dusts may
cause severe irritation of the nose, throat, bronchial tubes, and lung. /Chromic
acid mist & chromate dusts/
Dust may cause skin and nasal
irritation. Strong solutions can irritate the skin. /Dichromates and chromic
acid mist/
Great Lakes Chemical Corporation and the Pathfinders Camp