Chromium Trioxide

• CHROMIUM TRIOXIDE – (Pubmed) – Chromium trioxide, anhydrous appears as a dark purplish red solid. Under prolonged exposure to fire or heat the containers may explode. Highly toxic. A confirmed human carcinogen. – Source: CAMEO Chemicals
  
  • Locations: All Navy Bases
  • Publications:
    • CHAPTER 30 STOWAGE OF SAFE, SEMISAFE, AND DANGEROUS MATERIALS – All Navy Bases 1949
      
  • Dangers – Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB):
    • H271: May cause fire or explosion; strong Oxidizer [Danger Oxidizing liquids; Oxidizing solids]
    • H301: Toxic if swallowed [Danger Acute toxicity, oral]
    • H311: Toxic in contact with skin [Danger Acute toxicity, dermal]
    • H314: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage [Danger Skin corrosion/irritation]
    • H317: May cause an allergic skin reaction [Warning Sensitization, Skin]
    • H318: Causes serious eye damage [Danger Serious eye damage/eye irritation]
    • H330: Fatal if inhaled [Danger Acute toxicity, inhalation]
    • H334: May cause allergy or asthma symptoms or breathing difficulties if inhaled [Danger Sensitization, respiratory]
    • H340: May cause genetic defects [Danger Germ cell mutagenicity]
    • H350: May cause cancer [Danger Carcinogenicity]
    • H361: Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child [Warning Reproductive toxicity]
    • H372: Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure [Danger Specific target organ toxicity, repeated exposure]
    • H400: Very toxic to aquatic life [Warning Hazardous to the aquatic environment, acute hazard]
    • H410: Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects [Warning Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long-term hazard]
      
  • Toxicity –
    • IDENTIFICATION AND USE: Chromic trioxide is a brown solid. It is used Chromium plating, copper stripping, aluminum anodizing, corrosion inhibitor, photography, purifying oil and acetylene, hardening microscopical preparations, oxidizing agent in organic chemistry. It is also has been used as a veterinary medication.
    • HUMAN EXPOSURE AND TOXICITY: Chronic industrial exposures have led to severe liver damage, CNS involvement and perhaps lung cancer. Allergic reactions are common. If ingested, is characterized by fulminant gastroenteritis, shock, and toxic nephritis. Chromium trioxide causes local burns. Levels of Cr VI in the form of chromium trioxide were capable of giving rise to nasal irritation at concentrations as low as 0.06 mg/cu m. In an otorhinolaryngological examination survey of 77 workers from 8 chromium-plating factories … workers were exposed to a hexavalent chromium trioxide aerosol at levels ranging from 23-681 ug/cu m. Sixteen papillomas of the upper respiratory tract were found in 14 of the 77 workers. The authors compared this prevalence of papillomas of the oral cavity with that of other workers surveyed (10/208) and with that of clinical patients (1/40). Ulcers in 4 of 9 workers exposed to chromic trioxide mist varying from 0.18 to 1.4 mg/cu m in breathing zone have been described. In one of the cases, perforation occurred after one month of exposure. Chromosome aberration rate was significantly increased in cultured human leukocytes treated with (2 & 4 ug/mL) of chromium trioxide hexahydrate (400 & 600 ug/mL).
    • ANIMAL STUDIES: Sarcomas (spindle-cell sarcomas and fibrosarcomas) at the implantation site were seen after 1 year in 15/35 rats implanted im with pellets of 25 mg sintered chromium trioxide. No implantation site tumors were obtained in 35 controls. A group of 43 female mice was exposed by inhalation to chromium trioxide mist (85% of particles > 5 um) generated by a miniaturized electroplating system at a chromium concentration of 1.81 mg/cu m for 120 min twice a week for 12 months, at which time 23 mice were killed. The remaining 20 were killed six months after the last exposure. Nasal perforation was seen in 3/23 and 3/20 mice killed at 12 and 18 months, respectively; 0/23 and 6/20 nasal papillomas occurred in these groups. A single lung adenoma was reported in the group killed at 18 months. No nasal inflammatory change or lung tumor was seen in a group of 20 untreated control mice. Golden hamsters received chromium(VI) trioxide iv on day 8 of pregnancy as either 5, 7.5, 10, or 15 mg/kg body weight. The dose of 15 mg/kg body weight proved to be lethal to 3/4 mother animals. The rate of resorptions increased with the higher doses (29% with 7.5 mg/kg body weight; 41% with 10 mg/kg body weight; 2% in controls), as did the rate of malformations (cleft palate, 85% at 7.5 and 10 mg/kg body weight). With the higher doses, 31% (7.5 mg/kg body weight) and 49% (10 mg/kg body weight) of the fetuses were retarded. Chromic trioxide induced high levels of chromosomal aberrations in mammalian cells.
    • ECOTOXICITY STUDIES: Chromic trioxide inhibited kiwifruit growth and development.
      – Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
      
  • Diseases – Source: Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD):
    • Brain Diseases
    • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury
    • Edema
    • Hypersensitivity, Delayed
    • Kidney Diseases
    • Splenomegaly
    • Weight Loss