Criteria Document: Occupational Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium

NIOSH published a final document, Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium, in January 2013. The final document and the NIOSH responses to the peer and stakeholder and public review comments are provided below.

Previously, a public meeting was held in January 2009 at the Robert A. Taft Laboratory in Cincinnati, Ohio, as a forum for scientists and representatives of government agencies, industry, labor, and other stakeholders to discuss the external review draft document. Information about the public meeting, the external review draft document, and the peer reviewer, stakeholder, and public comments received are also provided below.

Final Document and Responses to Reviewers’ Comments

Notice of availability of guidance document; 78FR9054; 2/7/13 [PDF – 176 KB]

Final document “Criteria for a Recommended Standard: Occupational Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium”; DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2013-128; 1/24/13 [PDF – 2,647 KB]

NIOSH response to Peer Review Comments; 12/18/12 [PDF – 1,120 KB]

NIOSH response to Public and Stakeholder Comments; 12/18/12 [PDF – 1,844 KB]

Pre-Meeting Information

Draft NIOSH “Criteria Document Update: Occupational Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium,” September 2008 [PDF – 65,490 KB]

Notice of request for public to submit comments and attend meeting; 73 FR 61874; 10/17/08 [PDF – 1,990 KB]

Meeting Information

Agenda for the NIOSH public meeting on “Criteria Document Update: Occupational Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium;” Cincinnati, OH – 1/22/09 [PDF – 516 KB]

List of attendees – 01/22/09 [PDF – 994 KB]

Presentation titled, “Cr(VI) Criteria Document Update Development Process” by Geraci (NIOSH) – 01/22/09 [PDF – 836 KB]

Presentation titled, “History of NIOSH Hexavalent Chromium Process” by Lentz (NIOSH) – 01/22/09 [PDF – 877 KB]

Presentation titled, “I. Hexavalent Chromium and Lung Cancer in the Chromate Industry: A Quantitative Risk Assessment” by Park (NIOSH) 01/22/09 [PDF – 2,500 KB]

Presentation titled, “II. Thresholds and Other Non-linearities in the Relationship between Hexavalent Chromium and Lung Cancer” by Park (NIOSH) – 01/22/09 [PDF – 875 KB]

Presentation titled, “Criteria Document Update: Occupational Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium” by MacMahon (NIOSH) – 01/22/09 [PDF – 1,119 KB]

Presentation titled, “Testimony of CPRW – the Center for Construction Research and Training on the NIOSH Criteria Document Update: Occupational Exposure to Hexavalent Chromium” by Susi (CPRW – the Center for Construction Research and Training) – 01/22/09 [PDF – 276 KB]

Post-Meeting Information

Notice of request for public to submit comments: Extension of comment period; 74 FR 4752; 1/27/09 [PDF – 507 KB]

Submissions from the Public in Order of Receipt

Submission to the docket from Mundt (ENVIRON International Corporation) –-12/31/08 [PDF – 165 KB]

Submission to the docket from Susi (Center for Construction Research and Training) – 1/8/09 [PDF – 524 KB]

Submission to the docket from Brown (Wood Preservative Science Council) – 1/9/09 [PDF – 1,650 KB]

Submission to the docket from Trippler (American Industrial Hygiene Association) – 2/26/09 [PDF – 1,670 KB]

Submission to the docket from Robinson (Color Pigments Manufacturers Association, Inc.) – 3/17/09 [PDF – 1,940 KB]

Submission to the docket from Alexeeff (California Environmental Protection Agency) – 3/27/09 [PDF – 1,700 KB]

Submission to the docket from Mezei (Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) – 3/30/09 [PDF – 4,700 KB]

Submission to the docket from McMahon-Lohrer (Specialty Steel Industry of North America) – 3/31/09 [PDF – 6,370 KB]

Submission to the docket from Bor (Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO and The Center for Construction Research and Training) – 3/31/09 [PDF – 7,380 KB]

Submissions from Peer Reviewers

Submission to NIOSH Docket from Peer Reviewer #1 – 1/9/09 [PDF – 2,200 KB]

Submission to NIOSH Docket from Peer Reviewer #2 – 4/24/09 [PDF – 1,600 KB]

Submission to NIOSH Docket from Peer Reviewer #3 – 4/25/09 [PDF – 2,100 KB]

Submission to NIOSH Docket from Peer Reviewer #4 – 4/30/09 [PDF – 1,455 KB]

Submission to NIOSH Docket from Peer Reviewer #5 – 5/2/09 [PDF – 1,730 KB]

Submission to NIOSH Docket from Peer Reviewer #1 – 5/5/09 [PDF – 277 KB]

Peer Review

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, PhD
Assistant Professor, Epidemiology, Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY
Areas of Expertise: Epidemiology
Recommended by: NIOSH

Harvey Clewell, III, MA, DABT
Director, Center for Human Health Assessment, CIIT Centers for Health Research, Research Triangle Park, NC
Areas of Expertise: Risk assessment
Recommended by: NIOSH

Herman Gibb, PhD, MPH
Sciences International, Inc., Alexandria, VA
Areas of Expertise: Risk assessment, epidemiology
Recommended by: NIOSH

John Wise, MD, MPH
Center for Integrated and Applied Environmental Toxicology
Research Institute University of Southern Maine
Areas of Expertise: Toxicology
Recommended by: NIOSH

Richard Danchik, PhD
PittCon, Pittsburgh, PA
Areas of Expertise: Chemistry
Recommended by: NIOSH

Steven Patierno, PhD
Executive Director, Professor, George Washington University, Cancer Institute, Dept. of Pharmacology and Physiology
Areas of Expertise: Toxicology
Recommended by: NIOSH

Charge to Peer Reviewers:

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?

Submissions from Peer Reviewers:

• Submission to NIOSH Docket from Peer Reviewer #1 – 1/9/09
• Submission to NIOSH Docket from Peer Reviewer #2 – 4/24/09
• Submission to NIOSH Docket from Peer Reviewer #3 – 4/25/09
• Submission to NIOSH Docket from Peer Reviewer #4 – 4/30/09
• Submission to NIOSH Docket from Peer Reviewer #5 – 5/2/09
• Submission to NIOSH Docket from Peer Reviewer #1 – 5/5/09