title: Hexavalent chromium in house dust--a comparison between an area with historic contamination from chromate production and background locations.
abstract: In contrast to Cr(+3), Cr(+6) is carcinogenic and allergenic. Although Cr(+6) can occur naturally, it is thought that most soil Cr(+6) is anthropogenic, however, the extent of Cr(+6) in the background environment is unknown. Cr(+6)-containing chromite ore processing residue (COPR) from chromate manufacture was deposited in numerous locations in Jersey City (JC), New Jersey. In the 1990's, significantly elevated concentrations of total Cr (Cr(+6)+Cr(+3)) were found in house dust near COPR sites. We undertook a follow-up study to determine ongoing COPR exposure. We compared Cr(+6) in house dust in JC to selected background communities with no known sources of Cr(+6). Samples were collected from living areas, basements and window wells. Cr(+6) was detected in dust from all JC and background houses. In the JC homes, the mean (+ or - SD) Cr(+6) concentration for all samples was 3.9 + or - 7.0 microg/g (range: non-detect-90.4 microg/g), and the mean Cr(+6) loading was 5.8 + or - 15.7 microg/m(2) (range: non-detect-196.4 microg/m(2)). In background homes, the mean Cr(+6) concentrations of all samples was 4.6 + or - 7.8 microg/g, (range, 0.05-56.6 microg/g). The mean loading was 10.0 + or - 27.9 microg/m(2) (range, 0.22-169.3 microg/m(2)). There was no significant difference between Cr(+6) dust concentrations in Jersey City and background locations. Stratification by sample location within houses and sampling method gave similar results. Samples exceeding 20 microg/g were obtained only from single wood surfaces in different homes. Lower concentrations in window well samples suggests transport from outside is not the major source of indoor Cr(+6). Landscaping and groundcover may influence indoor Cr(+6). There appears to be a widespread low level background of Cr(+6) that is not elevated in Jersey City homes despite its historic COPR contamination. It is possible that house dust, in general, is a source of Cr(+6) exposure with potential implications for persistence of chromium allergic contact dermatitis.
authors.affiliation: Office of Science, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, 428 E. State St., Trenton, NJ 08625, USA. alan.stern@dep.state.nj.us
authors.forename: Alan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Stern
authors.forename: Chang Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Lioy
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gochfeld
authors.forename: Zhi-Hua Tina
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000032:analysis*; D002617:Chemical Industry; D002857:Chromium / Q000032:analysis*; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006798:Housing; D007220:Industrial Waste; D009515:New Jersey
chemical_list: D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D004391:Dust; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007220:Industrial Waste; D002857:Chromium; C074702:chromium hexavalent ion