Chromium VI: 3 target actions offering first aid in case of occupational health risk

Industrial use of hexavalent chromium (VI) compounds include chromate pigments in dyes, paints, inks, and plastics. Chromates are added as anticorrosive agents to paints, primers, and other surface coatings; on vehicles like military tanks, airplanes, boats and trains. It protects metal from anti-corrosion. Evidence exists, that there is a substantial risk of illness concerning the exposure to Chromium VI. Inhaled hexavalent chromium is recognized as a human carcinogen and an occupational hazard.

What are the consequences of using Chromium VI for employees in the workplace and how can we best deal with occurring similar risks and claims in the future?

Use of Chromium VI in the Netherlands

Until the end of the nineties, Chromium VI was allowed for industrial and military use in the Netherlands. Public attention opened up the dialogue on working conditions for employees welding steel, spraying, grinding and polishing  with the substance. A lot of people didn’t even use protective mouth caps or clothing until the late nineties of the twentieth century. In the case of employees working for the Ministry of Defense,  the National Institute for Public Health and Environment (Dutch: RIVM) is requested to conduct an independent investigation about the risks of exposure to Chromium VI, which probably will take two more years. Employees in other areas - for example workers sandpapering Chromium VI painted trains for railway companies- are now worried about their similar situation. More and more cases like these will probably occur in the near future.

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WHO and US research on risks with Chromium

The International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization, did vast research on the relationship between Chromium VI and different types of cancer, studying cases in various countries. So did NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health - established by U.S. Congress). In their report , they describe exposure associated with lung- nasal- and sinus cancers, asthma, contact dermatitis, skin ulcers, irritation and ulceration of the nasal mucosa, reports of liver and kidney damage,  pneumonia, bronchitis, epigastric pain, erosion and discoloration of teeth, and perforated ear drums.  They concluded that “sufficient contact with any chromium(VI) material could cause these effects”.  It is estimated that 558,000 workers are potentially exposed to Cr(VI) in the United States.

Erin Brokovich

The most famous health risks hazard caused by Chromium VI in the US, was the contaminated drinking water in the town of Hinkley, California. Erin Brokovich filed a lawsuit against PG&E (Pacific Gas and Electric). A lot of inhabitants of the small town had unexplainable illnesses or were diagnosed with cancer. PG&E settled in 1996 for $333 million. The case was even the basis of a successful movie starring Julia Roberts. Although money is a soothing gratification for all the suffering and even necessary for paying the doctor bills, it can never replace health and being heard.

In the near future more cases can be expected where workers are exposed to Chromium VI or other toxic chemicals. Lawyers and unions are getting ready to build up liability cases They will take years and years. Some of the employees might not outlive the final outcome of their case.

There are 3 - humane - action items to be distilled which will offer first aid in these severe cases:

• Alleviate the suffering – employees who are very ill can’t wait that long for a satisfying solution. Fortunately, in the Dutch military case, (former) workers receive an advance payment (without losing the right to start a lawsuit).
• Make sure ill workers are heard FAST – get the independent (medical) opinion of a toxic expert that helps to take away the anxiety of waiting for a long term investigation.
• Distill lessons learned – Don’t reinvent the wheel, learn from each other on an international scale. Not only Chromium VI will lead to occupational hazards; more and more working situations in which chemical agents have been used will pop up in the near future.

Standardize procedures in recognizing the struggle of people who suffer from chemical related diseases. We have to learn from former similar cases and use it to make the situation better for people who are still waiting for some kind of recognition.

My name is Mariette Bijl, I am a change & communications manager at www.yellowfactory.org in the Netherlands and currently studying Social Media Marketing Strategy at North Western University through Coursera. My focus areas are: sustainable employability, occupational healthcare, toxic incident counseling, promoting training and schooling for occupational physicians, insurance doctors and companies. Please feel free to connect with me through twitter.