NIOSH Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium

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Publication Number 2013-128 - Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium

Related Materials

• NIOSH Response to Peer Review Comments; 12/18/12 [PDF - 1,120 KB]
• NIOSH Response to Public and Stakeholder Comments
• NIOSH Docket 144 (includes peer, public, and stakeholder review comments)

Required Elements for Initial Public Posting

Title: Criteria Document Update: Occupational Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium

Subject: Review of the relevant scientific literature on occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium compounds along with recommendations for preventing and limiting occupational exposure.

Purpose: To provide recommendations to reduce worker exposure to hexavalent chromium compounds, and to reduce lung cancer deaths due to occupational hexavalent chromium exposure.

Timing of Review: Fall 2008-Winter 2009

Primary Disciplines or Expertise Needed for Review: Industrial hygiene, chemistry, risk assessment, epidemiology, toxicology

Type of Review: Individual

Number of Reviewers: 6

Reviewers Selected by: NIOSH

Public Nominations Requested for Reviewers: No

Opportunities for the Public to Comment: Yes

Peer Reviewers Provided with Public Comments Before Their Review: Yes

Peer Reviewers:

Edwin van Wijngaarden
Academic and Professional Credentials: PhD
Organizational Affiliation: Assistant Professor, Epidemiology, Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Epidemiology
Recommended by: NIOSH

Harvey Clewell, III
Academic and Professional Credentials: MA, DABT
Organizational Affiliation: Director, Center for Human Health Assessment, CIIT Centers for Health Research, Research Triangle Park, NC
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Risk assessment
Recommended by: NIOSH

Herman Gibb
Academic and Professional Credentials: PhD, MPH
Organizational Affiliation: Sciences International, Inc., Alexandria, VA
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Risk assessment, epidemiology
Recommended by: NIOSH

John Wise
Academic and Professional Credentials: MD, MPH
Organizational Affiliation: Center for Integrated and Applied Environmental Toxicology
Research Institute University of Southern Maine
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Toxicology
Recommended by: NIOSH

Richard Danchik
Academic and Professional Credentials: Dr
Organizational Affiliation: PittCon, Pittsburgh, PA
Areas of Expertise, Discipline, or Relevant Experience: Chemistry
Recommended by: NIOSH

Charge to Peer Reviewers:

The goals of this document are to describe the:

1. critical animal, human, and in vitro studies on occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium;
2. relevant quantitative risk assessments about occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium;
3. appropriate methods for sampling and analysis of hexavalent chromium compounds in the workplace;
4. basis for the NIOSH revised Recommended Exposure Limit for hexavalent chromium compounds;
5. other NIOSH recommendations for protecting workers from occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium.

The charge to the Peer Reviewers is to objectively review the document to determine whether:

• the hazard identification is a reasonable reflection of the available scientific studies,
• the NIOSH recommendations for protecting workers from occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium are appropriate, and
• NIOSH has a transparent and sound basis for its revised Recommended Exposure Limit for hexavalent chromium compounds.

To facilitate review of this Criteria Document, the questions below should be considered:

1. Are the critical studies presented clearly and adequately?
2. Do all of the presented studies use scientifically valid methods and techniques?
3. Are there additional critical studies relevant to occupational exposure to hexavalent chromium compounds that should be included?
4. Does NIOSH have a transparent and sound basis for its revised Recommended Exposure Limit for hexavalent chromium compounds?
5. Is the new NIOSH policy of providing general exposure assessment recommendations instead of a specific Action Level scientifically justified?
6. Are the NIOSH recommendations for worker protection clear and justified?
7. Are there additional recommendations for worker protection that should be included?