Chromium industry withheld data from the U.S. government

Feb 27 2006

According to a new report scientists funded by the chromium industry withheld key data from the U.S. government which called for a strict standard to be imposed regarding workplace exposure to hexavalent chromium.

The report is based on evidence of the manipulation of material in documents that surfaced following the bankruptcy of the Industrial Health Foundation, a group funded by the chromium industry.

Researchers from the Washington-based Public Citizen Health Research Group, and the George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services discovered the documents as the result of an Internet search and through the public access to court electronic records system.

They say according to the secret industry documents the chromium industry at the same time fought to block a lower federal workplace exposure level for the potentially deadly metal.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that hexavalent chromium is a human carcinogen.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has also determined that certain hexavalent chromium compounds are known to cause cancer in humans, and the EPA has determined that hexavalent chromium in air is a human carcinogen.

Though many agree that too much hexavalent chromium puts people at risk for lung cancer, how much is too much is unclear.

While the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration contemplates it's imminent ruling on the matter which is due on Tuesday, this new report will give food for thought.

The report states that industry-commissioned scientists withheld data suggesting even small amounts of the known carcinogen, which is used in the steel, aerospace, electroplating and industries, can be deadly.

David Michaels and co-author Dr. Peter Lurie, deputy director of Public Citizen’s Health Research Group have compared the chromium industry's manipulation of scientific results to the behaviour of the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries.

They say all of the standard elements of scientific distortion are evident, hiding behind the lawyers, statistical manipulation, and failure to publish; all strategies copied straight out of the tobacco industry's book.

Lawyers for the industry of course disagree with the Environmental Health report and have labelled the charges in the report, false, outrageous and libelous, and deny any industry-sponsored research was withheld from OSHA.

While past litigation has focused on the dangers of contact with hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium VI, through polluted water, the current concerns deal with airborne chromium VI that some 380,000 U.S. workers might inhale on the job.

There is to date no OSHA standard for how much chromium is acceptable in American factories other than one established in 1943, when the maximum on-the-job dose was set to prevent "nasal perforation" and skin irritations.

That 63-year-old standard equates to 52 micrograms per cubic meter of air.

In 2004, OSHA proposed a standard of 1 microgram per cubic meter, and has been collecting data on it since then, from industry and other groups.

The watchdog group Public Citizen asked for a 0.25 microgram per cubic meter level.

OSHA estimated that a 1 microgram level would cause two to nine excess deaths for every 1,000 workers exposed during their lifetimes, above the agency's target of one excess death per 1,000 workers.

If the level is raised to 5 micrograms, OSHA estimated it would cause five to 45 excess deaths for every 1,000 workers.

OSHA estimates that 380,000 workers are exposed to hexavalent chromium, which is used in chrome plating, stainless steel welding and the production of chromate pigments and dyes.

OSHA has declined to comment beforehand on Tuesday likely decision.

David Michaels says the issue is broader than the chromium VI case and he would like to see the system by which industry provides scientific data revised, so participation in any regulatory proceedings, means an obligation to provide all relevant data, and not just the data that supports their position.

The paper is published in the peer-reviewed journal "Environmental Health, and "Selected science: an industry campaign to undermine an OSHA hexavalent chromium standard," is online at: http://www.ehjournal.net/imedia/1517239368845801_article.pdf?random=672770