[TheForge] stainless steel and hexavalent chromium

[terry l. ridder]

hello;

while chatting on irc channel the subject came up concerning
electrolysis rust removal. specifically, the topic was concerning the
use of stainless steel electrodes as the sacrificial electrodes. the
concern is that the stainless steel is being consumed albeit slowly and
that this is releasing hexavalent chromium into the electrolyte
solution. a google search for hexvalent chromium does turned up numerous
hits concerning the health harzards associated with hexavalent chromium
and stainless steel. below are the two hits of most interest:

Why you should not use stainless steel electrodes for electrolysis
http://antique-engines.com/stainless-steel-electrodes.htm

Safety and Health Topics Toxic Metals Hexavalent Chromium
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/hexavalentchromium/recognition.html

this raises numerous red flags with me. making stainless steel nozzles
for the burners i use in the propane gas forge. not just the cutting of
the stainless steel but the release of the hexavalent chromium inside
the forge. it also raises questions concerning forging stainless steel.

given that the use of hexavalent chromium for corrosion protection is
banned internationally in 2006 that does nothing for all the scrap
stainless steel that blacksmiths tend to scrounge produced before the ban.

certainly adequate ventilation would help to minimize the exposure to
the hexavalent chromium. a positive air flow breathing weld hood and
helmet would insure a higher protection against hexavalent chromium
exposure.

the most basic questions are:
0) what are the health risks associated with using stainless steel
nozzles for propane burners?
1) what are the health risks/issues associated with forging stainless
steel?
2) what have others done to minimize their exposure to the health
risks/issues/etc associated with hexavalent chromium and stainless
steel.


-- 
terry l. ridder ><>