RE: possibly naive questions re chrome alum

[Monnoyer Philippe <monnoyer@imec.be>]

Judy,

In chromium alum, we have trivalent chromium ions.
In dichromates (bichromates), we have hexavalent chromium, which is a
confirmed carcinogenic species.

Here is the toxicological info for chromium alum extracted from the
MSDS:
CHROMIUM(III) POTASSIUM SULFATE DODECAHYDRATE
TOXICOLOGICAL INFORMATION: 
                ACUTE EFFECTS
                  MAY CAUSE SKIN IRRITATION.
                  MAY BE HARMFUL IF ABSORBED THROUGH THE SKIN.
                  MAY CAUSE EYE IRRITATION.
                  MAY BE HARMFUL IF INHALED.
                  MATERIAL MAY BE IRRITATING TO MUCOUS MEMBRANES AND
UPPER
                  RESPIRATORY TRACT.
                  MAY BE HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED.
                  TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE, THE CHEMICAL, PHYSICAL,
AND
                  TOXICOLOGICAL PROPERTIES HAVE NOT BEEN THOROUGHLY
INVESTIGATED.
                RTECS #: GB6850000
                  CHROMIUM(III) POTASSIUM SULFATE (1:1:2), DODECAHYDRATE
                TOXICITY DATA
                  IVN-RAT LD50:112 MG/KG                        EQSSDX
1,1,1975
                TARGET ORGAN DATA
                  TUMORIGENIC (EQUIVOCAL TUMORIGENIC AGENT BY RTECS
CRITERIA)
                  TUMORIGENIC (TUMORS AT SITE OF APPLICATION)
                  ONLY SELECTED REGISTRY OF TOXIC EFFECTS OF CHEMICAL
SUBSTANCES
                  (RTECS) DATA IS PRESENTED HERE. SEE ACTUAL ENTRY IN
RTECS FOR
                  COMPLETE INFORMATION.

Cheers,

Philippe

-----Original Message-----
From: Judy Seigel [mailto:jseigel@panix.com]
Sent: Thursday, May 02, 2002 04:04
To: alt-photo-process-l@skyway.usask.ca
Cc: alt-photo-process-error@skyway.usask.ca
Subject: possibly naive questions re chrome alum



> >
> > It would be difficult to confuse the two alums. Chrome alum looks
> > like final particles of purple sand, potassium alum almost like
sugar.


We've discussed the environmental issues of diCHROMEates many times,
although not conclusively by a long shot. Now it occurs to me to wonder
if
there are any such issues with chrome alum...

???????????????

And speaking of environmental issues, can anyone explain why I get up to
5
spam-mails a day with Viagra in the subject line?

J.