To improve their employment prospects,
between 2004 and 2012 about 800 Tilburg locals had to participate
in the tROM re-integration project.
Among other things, that involved restoring museum trains.
Research shows that a number of tROM participants
may have been exposed to chromium-6.
Particles of paint sanded off of trains may have contained chromium-6.
Chromium-6 particles are primarily released during sanding
or when using compressed air for cleaning.
Once released, it can enter the human body.
The particles can be inhaled or swallowed.
Research shows that, in tROM, exposure to chromium-6 was so significant
that it could lead to illness.
The health risks depend
on the type of work done, the duration of the work,
the place of work and the measures taken.
In addition, the risk depends on other factors,
such as lifestyle, work history,
contact with other substances and personal sensitivity.
When a person who has been exposed to chromium-6 falls ill,
that doesn't necessarily mean that the chromium-6 caused the illness.
Participants may have been exposed directly or indirectly.
Direct exposure incurred the highest exposure.
Indirect exposure could have occurred regularly or incidentally.
Some people who worked for tROM almost never went in the train shed.
The exposure they had was negligible.
The participants who worked on a train
may have had direct exposure to chromium-6.
That goes for the mentors who oversaw the work, as well.
Participants and mentors who did different work in the shed
were farther away.
They may have been indirectly exposed to chromium-6.
People who did other work but visited the shed
may have been indirectly or incidentally exposed.
The higher, more frequent or longer the exposure,
the bigger the chance of falling ill.
Researchers looked at
whether direct, indirect or incidental exposure to chromium-6
may have led to illness
in tROM participants or mentors, or others involved.
Direct, indirect or incidental exposure to chrome-6
can lead to lung cancer, stomach cancer, nasal and paranasal cancer,
and allergic asthma and rhinitis.
Direct and indirect exposure can also lead to allergic contact dermatitis.
It's unlikely for this to occur following incidental exposure.
If direct or indirect exposure lasted for a very long time,
this can also lead to perforation of the nasal septum due to chromium ulcers.
Only direct, prolonged exposure can lead to chronic lung disease.
These results apply to tROM as a whole.
To gauge your personal situation, there are more factors at play
than exposure to chromium-6 alone.
If you think you've fallen ill because you worked with chromium-6 with tROM,
contact the CAOP information point.
They can tell you your options.