• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.497-501
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• 2007

The objective of the study is to determine the contents of total chromium, water-soluble chromium and hexavalent chromium in cements and concretes specimens taken from manufacturing or construction sites. Chromate is an allergen that is widespread in the environment and is richly contained in cements. Metals were extracted with microwave oven and analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometer. Hexavalent chromium was analysed by ion chromatography. The concentrations of total chromium, water-soluble chromium and hexavalent chromium in cements were $36.02{\sim}108.01,\;15.95{\sim}89.01\;and\;26.77{\sim}89.61\;mg/kg$, respectively. The concentrations of hexavalent chromium in cements were higher than 2 mg/kg, a maximum value recommended in Northern European Countries. The concentrations of total chromium, water-soluble chromium and hexavalent chromium in concretes were $17.44{\sim}76.25,\;0.98{\sim}17.71\;and\;ND{\sim}24.13\;mg/kg$, respectively. Especially Hexavalent chromium was detected only from concrete specimens from construction sites. It is oxidized or reduced status by environmental condition or surrounding materials.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제21권12호
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• pp.679-684
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• 2011

One of the trace constituents included in cement clinker, chromium, has become prominent and highly noticed lately as a social issue both inside and outside of this country because it affects the human body negatively. The purpose of the present study was to investigate leaching properties of water-soluble hexavalent chromium by different manufacturing conditions of cement clinker. Raw materials were prepared to add different $SiO_2$, $Al_2O_3$ and $Fe_2O_3$ sources. After the raw materials, such as limestone, sand and clay, iron ore was pulverized and mixed, and the raw meal was burnt at $1450^{\circ}C$ in a furnace with an oxidizing atmosphere. Leaching of soluble hexavalent chromium showed a tendency to decrease with an increasing LSF and IM. However, leaching of soluble hexavalent chromium increased with an increasing S.M. Alkali contents of iron source minerals is closely related to the leaching properties of soluble hexavalent chromium. Green sludge has the highest content of alkali added; leaching of water-soluble hexavalent chromium was mostly high. In order to reduce the water-soluble hexavalent chromium in cement, reducing the alkali content in raw materials is important.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.15-21
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• 2005

There is now a growing concern about the possible toxicity of heavy metals in cosmetics. Heavy metals can be used as cosmetic ingredients or may be present as low level impurities in some of the raw materials. Chromium derivatives are used as pigments in cosmetics. Chromium is essential and toxic trace elements. Chromium may cause skin allergy. However, the regulations related to cosmetic products give no limit values for Chromium. Hexavalent chromium is significantly more toxic than trivalent chromium. Hexavalent chromium may present a carcinogenic risk at high concentrations. Therefore, it is important to consider oxidation state of chromium when analyze chromium. The purpose of this study is to determine the concentrations of water-soluble trivalent and hexavalent chromium in samples of makeup products, and to assess the safety of cosmetics on the basis of animal sensitization tests using guinea pig. The present study of chromium in 48 makeup products of 12 manufacturers provides a basis for assessing safety of makeup products. Water-soluble hexavalent chromium was not detected in any product. Water-soluble trivalent chromium was detected in only 9 eye shadows out of 48 makeup products, and could not be quantified 3 out of 9 eye shadows. The highest level of water-soluble trivalent chromium was about 10 mg/kg in spite of 90,000 mg/kg of total chromium. The results of animal sensitization tests show that 200 mg/kg of trivalent chromium and 5 mg/kg of hexavalent chromium have no harmful effect. No cross-reaction among these metals was found. Accordingly, the concentrations of water-soluble chromium in makeup products seemed to be safe. The overall results indicate that chromium in cosmetics probably have no significant toxicological effects. However, It is necessary to set guidelines on the maximum permissible concentration of water-soluble chromium in cosmetics.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.181-186
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• 2010

Since it was developed by Joseph Aspdin, cement has been a common construction materials up to the present time. However, there are trace constituents in cement clinker. One of the trace constituents included in cement clinker, chromium, has become prominent and highly noticed lately as a social issue both inside and outside of this country because it affects the human body negatively. The aim of the present study was to investigate the concentration of water-soluble hexavalent chromium in cement clinker by using industrial by-products. For that reason, raw materials were prepared to add different $SiO_2$, $Al_2O_3$, and $Fe_2O_3$ sources. After the raw materials such as the limestone, the sand and the clay, iron ore was pulverized and mixed, and the raw meal was burnt at about $1450^{\circ}C$ in a furnace with an oxidizing atmosphere. The part in the raw materials of the clinker was substituted with slag, sludge, etc. and this was used to manufacturing cement clinker. To investigate the water-soluble hexavalent chromium content in clinker, raw meal was prepared by changing the modulus, the type, and the content of clinker materials and tested concentrations of hexavalent chromium in the clinkers. To determine $Cr^{+6}$ formation of the clinker, tests were done with raw meals adding chromium by using different industrial by-products. Consequently because the chromium was to be included in the raw materials of the clinker, production of Portland cement clinker was included with the chromium. Also, the chromium was converted into hexavalent chromium in the burning process.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.166-178
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• 2024

Objectives: The 12 occupational exposure limits(OELs) for chromium and its compounds in Korea were set by applying the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) Threshold Limit Values (TLVs). However, this is significantly different from the TLVs after the existing TLVs were integrated and withdrawn in 2018, so it is necessary to review the revision. Methods: Various documents related to chromium OELs were reviewed, including the ACGIH TLV Documentations for chromium and its compounds. A field survey was conducted targeting workplaces handling chromium and its compounds. Based on this, a revised OELs were proposed and a socio-economic evaluation was conducted. Results: The OELs for chromium compounds in Korea was first enacted in 2002, and in 2007, the OELs for chromium (hexavalent) compounds (insoluble) was lowered from 0.05 mg/m³ to 0.01 mg/m³. In 2008, the OELs for strontium chromate was newly established as 0.0005 mg/m³, and in 2018, the OELs for calcium chromate was newly established as 0.001 mg/m³. Total chromium and hexavalent chromium were measured for each of 6 samples at 2 welding sites, 4 plating sites, and 2 spray coating sites. When omparing the average of the results measured by ICP, a total chromium analysis method, and the analysis results by IC, a hexavalent chromium analysis method, only workplace 4 was the same, and total chromium was evaluated more, and total chromium was evaluated at 0.0004 to 0.0027 mg/m³. And hexavalent chromium was evaluated as non-detection ~ 0.0014 mg/m³. Amendment ①: The exposure standard for hexavalent chromium is not divided into water soluble, insoluble, chromium ore processing, and other hexavalent chromium compounds, and is integrated into 0.01 mg/m³, which is the level of chromium (hexavalent) compound (insoluble)., OELs for chromium (metal) and chromium (trivalent) compounds are integrated into chromium (trivalent) compounds, and the exposure level is maintained. Amendment ②: As in the amendment ①, the OELs are integrated, but the level is lowered to 0.005 mg/m³, which is the OELs of OSHA, and there is a grace period of 4 years. Amendment ③: As in the amendment ①, the OELs are integrated, but the level is lowered to 0.0002 mg/m³, which is the exposure standard of ACGIH, and there is a grace period of 5 years. Conclusions: Amendment ①: The change in the OELs is insignificant, so the cost required is small, and the benefit/cost ratio is greater than 1, so there is no problem in applying the amendment. Amendment ②: In all scenarios except chromium 6(insoluble), the benefit/cost ratio is greater than 1, so it is thought that there will be no major problem in applying the amendment. Amendment ③: Since the benefit/cost ratio is less than 1 in all scenarios, it is thought that the total social benefit that can be obtained when applying the amendment is not large.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.87-98
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• 2020

Objective: The purpose of this study was to propose a sequential procedure for the simultaneous analysis of soluble and insoluble metal compounds. Methods: Methods for sampling and analyzing metal compounds such as ISO standards, NIOSH methods, HSE methods, and OSHA methods were reviewed. Results: Some metals have different OELs depending on the solubility of the compound. Therefore, we should take into account these characteristics and perform an exposure assessment. Soluble metal compounds are first extracted from the filter, and then the filter is digested by acids to analyze residual insoluble components. The extraction of soluble compounds can be completed by agitation for about 60 minutes with a leach solution (water) in a water bath at 37℃. For the analysis of insoluble compounds, the sample filter and the filtration filter remaining after the extraction of the soluble compounds are analyzed. This allows simultaneous determination of soluble and insoluble metal compounds. For hexavalent chromium compounds, soluble hexavalent chromium can first be extracted from the filter by using sulfate buffer. The insoluble hexavalent chromium remaining in the filter can then be extracted using carbonate buffer. Conclusion: Workers are often exposed to many hazardous substances with different exposure limits at industrial sites. The OELs for compounds of the same metal can be set differently depending on solubility. This study can help evaluate a worker's exposure to metal compounds by suggesting methods for the simultaneous determination of soluble and insoluble metal compounds.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.547-554
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• 2012

Chromium is generated from several industrial processes. It occurs in different oxidation states, but Cr(III) and Cr(VI) are the most common ones. Cr(VI) is a toxic, soluble environmental contaminant. Some bacteria are able to reduce hexavalent chromium to the insoluble and less toxic Cr(III), and thus chromate bioremediation is of considerable interest. An indigenous chromium-reducing bacterial strain, Rb-2, isolated from a tannery water sample, was identified as Ochrobactrum intermedium, on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The influence of factors like temperature of incubation, initial concentration of Cr, mobility of bacteria, and different carbon sources were studied to test the ability of the bacterium to reduce Cr(VI) under variable environmental conditions. The ability of the bacterial strain to reduce hexavalent chromium in artificial and industrial sewage water was evaluated. It was observed that the mechanism of resistance to metal was not due to the change in the permeability barrier of the cell membrane, and the enzyme activity was found to be inductive. Intracellular reduction of Cr(VI) was proven by reductase assay using cell-free extract. Scanning electron microscopy revealed chromium precipitates on bacterial cell surfaces, and transmission electron microscopy showed the outer as well as inner distribution of Cr(VI). This bacterial strain can be useful for Cr(VI) detoxification under a wide range of environmental conditions.

• 한국구조물진단유지관리공학회 논문집
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.88-94
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• 2013

시멘트 내 6가 크롬은 피부질환이나 암을 유발할 수 있는 유해한 인체에 유해한 이온으로 잘 알려져 있다. 본 연구에서는 사람에게 영향을 주는 시멘트 내 6가 크롬의 정량적 분석을 하고자 시멘트 및 시멘트 경화체 내 6가 크롬의 고정화에 대해 평가하였다. 국내에서 생산되는 일반 포틀랜드 시멘트 3종과 플라이애쉬, 고로슬래그 미분말, 실리카퓸을 사용하여 수용성 및 산가용성 6가 크롬을 분광광도법으로 측정하였다. 측정결과, 시멘트 내 수용성 6가 크롬의 농도는 10.5-18.9 mg/kg-cement 범위였으며 혼화재료 내 수용성 6가 크롬의 양은 매우 적게 측정되었다. 시멘트 내 산가용성 6가 크롬의 농도는 172.4-318.2 mg/kg-cement 범위로 측정되었으며 수용성 6가 크롬에 비해 증가하였다. 그러나 크롬의 pH에 의존적인 용해 특성에 따라 용매의 pH가 저감된다고 하여 산가용성 6가 크롬의 농도가 항상 크게 측정되지는 않았다. 시멘트 수화 후 수용성 6가 크롬은 2.0 mg/kg-cement 정도로 감소하였으며 이는 크롬산-에트링게이트 생성에 의한 결과임을 확인할 수 있었다.

• 한국지하수토양환경학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국지하수토양환경학회 1999년도 추계학술발표회
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• pp.81-84
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• 1999

The aqueous geochemical characteristics of Cr(III) and Cr(Ⅵ) in environmental systems are very different from one another: Cr(Ⅵ) is highly soluble, mobile and toxic relative to Cr(III) Reduction of Cr(Ⅵ) to Cr(III) are beneficial in aquatic systems because of the transformation of a highly mobile and toxic species to one having a low solubility in water, thus simultaneously decreasing chromium mobility and toxicity. Fe(II) species are excellent reductants for transforming Cr(Ⅵ) to Cr(III), and in addition, keeping Cr(III) concentrations below the drinking water standard of 52 ppb at pH values between 5 and 11. Investigations of the effects of NOM on Cr(Ⅵ) reduction are for examining the feasibility of using ferrous iron to reduce hexavalent chromium in subsurface environments. Experiments in the presence of soils, however, showed that the solid phase consumes some of the reducing capacity of Fe(II) and makes the overall reduction kinetics slower. The soil components bring about consumption of the ferrous iron reductant. Particular attention is devoted to the complexation of Fe(II) by NOM and the subsequent effect on Cr(Ⅵ) reduction. Cr(Ⅵ) reduction rate by Fe(II) was affected by the presence of NOM (humic acid), The effects of humic acid was different from the solution pH values and the concentration of humic acid. It was probably due to the reactions between humic acid and Cr(Ⅵ), humic acid and Fe(II), and between Cr(Ⅵ) and Fe(II), at each pH.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권11호
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• pp.1519-1525
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• 2021

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is recognized to be carcinogenic and toxic and registered as a contaminant in many drinking water regulations. It occurs naturally and is also produced by industrial processes. The reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) has been a central topic for chromium remediation since Cr(III) is less toxic and less mobile. In this study, fermentative Fe(III)-reducing bacterial strains (Cellu-2a, Cellu-5a, and Cellu-5b) were isolated from a groundwater sample and were phylogenetically related to species of Cellulomonas by 16S rRNA gene analysis. One selected strain, Cellu-2a showed its capacity of reduction of both soluble iron (ferric citrate) and solid iron (hydrous ferric oxide, HFO), as well as aqueous Cr(VI). The strain Cellu-2a was able to reduce 15 μM Cr(VI) directly with glucose or sucrose as a sole carbon source under the anaerobic condition and indirectly with one of the substrates and HFO in the same incubations. The heterogeneous reduction of Cr(VI) by the surface-associated reduced iron from HFO by Cellu-2a likely assisted the Cr(VI) reduction. Fermentative features such as large-scale cell growth may impose advantages on the application of bacterial Cr(VI) reduction over anaerobic respiratory reduction.