Chromium may be used:
(1) to make stainless steel
(2) in electroplating
(3) as chromic acid
(4) in the leather tanning industry
(5) enameling
(6) in cement
Sources of worker exposure:
(1) fumes
(2) splashes
(3) direct contact
Skin and nasal lesions may include:
(1) small punched-out skin ulcers with scarring (chrome ulcer, chrome "hole")
(2) nasal ulcerations, with or without septal perforations
(3) chemical burns (which may be life-threatening if hexavalent chromium involved)
(4) allergic contact dermatitis (exclude sensitivity to nickel or other chemicals)
Risk factors for exposure:
(1) failure to use personal protective equipment
(2) unsafe work practices
(3) wiping face with contaminated gloves
(4) use of hexavalent chromium
(5) failure to cover wounds
