Thread: chromium oxide - mutagenic ?

Hello All...

I have heard one or two times, that the chromium oxide is mutagenic..

Is this true? how long should we be exposed to it to be harmful?

I has been trying to find info without success...

Thanks in advance

http://www.atmos.umd.edu/~russ/MSDS/chromium_oxide_vwr.html

Take it for what it is worth!

Every person who polishes with it knows that you need to wear a mask if you are going to do something that is going to throw dust into the air so that you don't breath it. Other than that I seriously doubt that rubbing a blade on the stuff can be harmful and touching in certainly is not.

Originally Posted by vulcano

Hello All...

I have heard one or two times, that the chromium oxide is mutagenic..

Is this true? how long should we be exposed to it to be harmful?

I has been trying to find info without success...

Thanks in advance

There are several types of Chromium Oxide. There is a kind, the kind we don't use, that is carcinogenic. The kind we use like JMS' contributed MSDS info shows is an irritant if snorted, etc and is not carcinogenic, non-lethal, non-flammable, etc.

Check out this Wiki link for the kind we use.

If you look at some of the other types of Chromium Oxide also on Wiki you'll see some of the others are harmful. I hope this helps.

Now...........if someone can tell me whether ingesting TUFF GLIDE or having it enter my bloodstream would be harmful or harmless, then I'd really be happy.

Chris L

The Wiki links and data are exactly the same as the data that are in the VWR MSDS sheet.

Not carcinogenic, non-lethal, etc... but it does state under the toxicological data that tests show that it may produce adverse mutagenic effects and tumors.

For those that are deeply concerned, Flexcut Gold works well and does not have the same set of issues.

Originally Posted by Chrisl

There are several types of Chromium Oxide. There is a kind, the kind we don't use, that is carcinogenic. The kind we use like JMS' contributed MSDS info shows is an irritant if snorted, etc and is not carcinogenic, non-lethal, non-flammable, etc.

Check out this Wiki link for the kind we use.

If you look at some of the other types of Chromium Oxide also on Wiki you'll see some of the others are harmful. I hope this helps.

Now...........if someone can tell me whether ingesting TUFF GLIDE or having it enter my bloodstream would be harmful or harmless, then I'd really be happy.

Chris L

Originally Posted by kelbro

Not carcinogenic, non-lethal, etc... but it does state under the toxicological data that tests show that it may produce adverse mutagenic effects and tumors.

Hi Kelbro....

Do you have the link for this information?

Thanks in advance

From what I understang, the inhalation of Cr2O3 dust could be dangerous. These types of info sheath is mainly for the industry, where people have to work with chromium oxide aroud.

I'm not really familiar with the compound (noooob, I know), is it like a paste?

Just don't forget that chromium oxide is all around you, on everything that is stainless, including your razor (if it's not in carbon steel).

Just try to avoid breathing Cr2O3 dust.

Originally Posted by kelbro

The Wiki links and data are exactly the same as the data that are in the VWR MSDS sheet.

Not carcinogenic, non-lethal, etc... but it does state under the toxicological data that tests show that it may produce adverse mutagenic effects and tumors.

For those that are deeply concerned, Flexcut Gold works well and does not have the same set of issues.

What is the micron rating of Flexcut Gold? It contains aluminum oxide and titanium oxide, and does not come in a paste, I don't think aluminum oxide gets as fine as .5 microns.

Originally Posted by vulcano

Hi Kelbro....

Do you have the link for this information?

Thanks in advance

The info for the chromium oxide is in the MSDS link that JMS included in his post.

Scroll down to #11 Toxicological Information

If you are talking about Flexcut Gold, it is a combo of aluminum oxide and titanium oxide.

I really wouldn't worry about either one of them. It's inhaling dust over prolonged periods that cause problems.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

What is the micron rating of Flexcut Gold? It contains aluminum oxide and titanium oxide, and does not come in a paste, I don't think aluminum oxide gets as fine as .5 microns.

They claim that it goes 'down to .6 micron' but some particles are larger. It comes in a 'crayon' like the Veritas chrome-ox. I use it on my 'roughout' paddle strop so the crayons work fine. My smooth leather strops stay smooth and paste-free.

I have heard of people making a paste from the crayons and mineral oil but my setup works well enough that I have never explored that option.

Flexcut Gold on one side of a paddle strop, Veritas green chrome-ox on the other side, followed by a few laps on smooth leather does me very well.