title: Concentration and size distribution of airborne hexavalent chromium in electroplating factories.
abstract: Studies have shown that chromium from electroplating factories can cause respiratory problems to workers after prolonged exposure. Since Taiwan has a relatively high number of electroplating factories and minimal data regarding chromium's effect on workers, the authors undertook this study focusing on the size distribution of airborne hexavalent chromium and its concentration levels within the factory. Both area and personal sampling were conducted using a particle fractionating sampler. Samples were analyzed using visible spectrophotometry. A comparison of three types of factories-chromium, nickel-chromium, and zinc-showed that the highest concentrations were found in chromium electroplating factories near the electroplating tank. Hexavalent chromium particles obtained from area sampling had mass median diameters between 1.67-6.38 microns and 0.75-4.73 microns for personal sampling. Particles of this high concentration and small size can enter and cause considerable damage to the respiratory tract.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Health, China Medical College, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000032:analysis*; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis*; D004595:Electroplating; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D008669:Metallurgy; D009532:Nickel / Q000032:analysis; D010316:Particle Size; D013053:Spectrophotometry; D015032:Zinc / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D002857:Chromium; C074702:chromium hexavalent ion; D009532:Nickel; D015032:Zinc