Allergic dermatitis to chromate in cement is the most common occupational dermatitis among construction workers in Singapore. Hexavalent chromate in cement can be removed by iron sulphate. This study determined the minimum concentration of iron sulphate required to remove the hexavalent chromate from nine brands of Asian cement. The hexavalent chromate concentrations in cements were determined by colorimetric spectrophotometry. The minimum amount of iron sulphate required to remove completely hexavalent chromate in all the cements was 0.35% w/w. Iron sulphate should be used in the construction industry to prevent cement dermatitis in construction workers.
8. Goh CL: Sickness absence due to occupational dermatoses in a prefabrication construction factory. Contact Dermatitis1986; 15: 28–31.
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9. Lim TY, Tam CT: Effect offerrous sulphate on some properties of concrete. Technical Report, Science Council of Singapore RDAS Project No. C/81/01. January 1985.
