The health hazards posed by chromium-contaminated soils in residential and industrial areas: Conclusions of an expert panel
- ChemRisk, McLaren/Hart Environmental Engineering, Alameda, CA (USA)
Between 1905 and 1971, over 2 million tons of residue from chromite ore processing was generated in Hudson County, New Jersey, of which substantial amounts were used as fill and tank diking. A panel of medical, toxicology, and risk assessment experts was convened in early 1990 to evaluate the potential health hazards posed by the resulting chromium contaminated soil. The Panel concluded that soils containing concentrations of 75 ppm hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and 1000 ppm total chromium compounds (about 95% was trivalent chromium (Cr(III))) did not pose a significant health hazard to nearby residents and workers. They also determined that exposure to chromium from Hudson County sites posed a negligible cancer hazard to residents. Using risk assessment methods, the Panel estimated that the plausible incremental cancer risk to individuals at residential sites would be substantially less than 1 in 1,000,000. The average measured levels of airborne Cr(VI) at typical industrial sites were more than 1000-fold lower than the current OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). The maximum plausible increased cancer risk for an average worker at a dusty industrial site was estimated to be less than 1 in 100,000. The Panel also concluded that chromium-containing crystals, which have occasionally been found in Hudson County buildings, do not pose a significant hazard. However, they suggested that were the concentration to exceed 5000 ppm Cr(VI) in the crystals, site-specific health risk assessments would be conducted and remediation considered. The Panel evaluated the dermal hazard posed by chromium-contaminated soil and acknowledged that there is a small group of persons ({approximately} 0.1% of the United States population) who currently have a dermal sensitization to Cr(VI) primarily through occupational exposure.
- OSTI ID:
- 5453308
- Journal Information:
- Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology; (United States), Vol. 13:2; ISSN 0273-2300
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CHROMIUM
HEALTH HAZARDS
FOOD CHAINS
CONTAMINATION
NEW JERSEY
LAND POLLUTION
SOILS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
INDUSTRY
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE
RISK ASSESSMENT
WATER SUPPLY
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION II
HAZARDS
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
SAFETY STANDARDS
STANDARDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
540220* - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology