Dangerous levels of toxic chromium paint also at Leeuwarden air base

It is too dangerous to continue working with chromium paint in the outdated spray booth at the Leeuwarden airbase. The carcinogenic substance is not sufficiently disposed of in the Leeuwarden spray booth and that the concentration in the air is sometimes 27 times higher than allowed.

That is the conclusion of the Command Service Centers (CDC) after a quick scan of the use of the highly toxic chromium pant, Friesch Dagblad reports.  Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert of Defense has announced that the use of chromium paint in this spray booth has been stopped.

Last year Hennis commissioned a quick scan of the Air Force locations where the carcinogenic chromium paint is still being used. This report was sent to the Tweede Kamer, lower house of parliament, last week. The report shows that the limit of 10 ug/m3 of chromium paint is exceeded in 5 different spray booths, with Leeuwarden far above the rest of the examined locations. The cause of the  considerable breach at the Leeuwarden spray cabin is the fact that it is outdated and that the ventilation techniques do not work as well as newer ones would.

The other spray booths that exceed the limit of chromium paint are at Eindhoven Air Base, Woensdrecnt and two in Volkel.

The CDC advised the Ministry of Defense to stop using the spray booth in Leeuwarden for working with chromium paint until it has been modernized. Hennis announced that she has taken this advice.