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Dust entry

Potassium dichromate dust

Hexavalent-chromium particulate hazard associated with potassium dichromate handling, including cyanotype and blueprinting work.

Airborne form

dust

The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.

Health effects

nasal and respiratory irritationnasal-septum injury concernpulmonary edema concernkidney damage concernprimary irritant dermatitissensitization dermatitisskin ulcerationhexavalent-chromium carcinogenicity concern

Evidence

In a cyanotype-printing health-hazard evaluation, NIOSH identified potassium dichromate as a highly toxic soluble hexavalent-chromium compound, determined that a health hazard existed in the workshop, and described chromium(VI) dust hazards including severe irritation of the nose, throat, lungs, and skin, dermatitis, skin ulceration, and other serious effects.

Source: pdf ↗ · saved source
page 3 · Evaluation Criteria · 2
Potassium dichromate ... is a highly toxic compound. Potassium dichromate contains hexavalent chromium (Cr VI) in a soluble form. Chromic acid mists and chromate dusts (chromium VI materials) are severe irritants of the naso-pharynx, larynx, lungs and skin. Chromium VI materials have been implicated as responsible for such effects as ulcerated nasal mucosa, perforated nasal septum, rhinitis, nosebleed, pulmonary edema, kidney damage, primary irritant dermatitis, sensitization dermatitis, and skin ulceration.

Controls