2. The issue has reached Europe
The manufacturer and operator documents in the overview originate predominantly from Europe: from German manufacturers (MAN, Frenzelit, ), an Austrian engine manufacturer (), a British vehicle manufacturer (), from the European Rockwool instruction, the German-language circular from Caterpillar Energy Solutions and Zeppelin, and the French translation of the Caterpillar bulletin. [12-16, 22, 23, 25]
In addition, there are authorities, regulations and research in Europe: the German statutory accident insurance institution BG ETEM, the German TRGS 561, the German Environment Agency (UBA), the European BAT reference document for waste incineration, the British practical case from waste incineration and the French field study on the maintenance of diesel and marine engines. ECFIA, the European association of high-temperature insulation wool manufacturers, commissioned research on Cr(VI) formation on insulation wools (Section 14). [2, 5, 19, 30, 34, 37, 44]
The issue is thus neither foreign nor theoretical. It appears in the service bulletins, technical instructions, product information and regulations that apply in European companies, workshops and plants. Whether it is recognised there as an issue in its own right is another question.
Sources cited in this section
- 2.BG ETEM: Mögliche Chrom(VI)-Exposition, last amended 3 August 2026.
- 5.Passeron, J.; Maisant, S.; Patrascu, C. et al.: Évaluation par mesures atmosphériques, surfaciques et biologiques de l’exposition professionnelle au chrome VI via une équipe référente en toxicologie en SPST. Références en Santé au Travail, TF 329, September 2025. Submitted study
- 12.Caterpillar: Hexavalent Chromium has been detected in certain Caterpillar Engines, Technical Information Bulletin M0116139-01, 1 June 2020; submitted French translation. Submitted bulletinAvailable to the author, not publicly retrievable.
- 13.Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH / Zeppelin: Technisches Rundschreiben 2175/00 DE: Sechswertiges Chrom (Cr6, CrVI), 23 August 2021. Submitted circularAvailable to the author, not publicly retrievable.
- 14.MAN Truck & Bus SE: Service-Mitteilung 8339SM: Auftreten von hexavalenten Chrom-Cr(VI)-Verbindungen im Betrieb, 13 December 2023. Submitted service bulletinAvailable to the author, not publicly retrievable.
- 15.Frenzelit GmbH: TechInfo 28: Chromium(VI)-Formation at High Temperature, Status August 2025, V2-ABE-MSK/08.25/de. Submitted English version.Available to the author, not publicly retrievable.
- 16.Rockwool Technical Insulation: Hinweise zur sicheren Verwendung: ProRox WM Drahtnetzmatten mit Edelstahl-Drahtgeflecht (SW) und/oder Edelstahl-Steppfaden (S), Version 1, 1 May 2023. Submitted product informationAvailable to the author, not publicly retrievable.
- 19.TRGS 561: Tätigkeiten mit krebserzeugenden Metallen und ihren Verbindungen, version of 4 May 2026; sections 3.3.4 and 5.9.3 as well as 4.1/4.2. Official publication or authority copy.
- 22.: Service Information: Work on component parts conducting exhaust gas with chrome(VI). , 7 August 2025. Submitted service information, one page.Available to the author, not publicly retrievable.
- 23.: Chromium VI Safety Information. Aftersales Bulletin , 27 August 2025, three pages. Submitted version; internal marking SECRET.Available to the author, not publicly retrievable.
- 25.: Technical Instruction: Cr6-Reduction, , Index 1, released 31 May 2023; in particular chapter 2 and the overview of addressees. Submitted document, seven pages.Available to the author, not publicly retrievable.
- 30.Euro Environmental Ltd.: Managing Chromium VI Exposure in Waste Recycling Incinerators. Undated British practical case report; accessed 7 October 2026.
- 34.European Commission / JRC: Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference Document for Waste Incineration, 2019, JRC118637. Evaluated officially indexed passage: leaching of bottom ash, explicit mention of hexavalent chromium. No complete comparison of the document.
- 37.van Leeuwen, T. K.: Condensation of Chromium Vapor, Generated in High-Temperature (>800°C) Environments, and Interactions with Aluminosilicate Surfaces. Dissertation, Montana State University, May 2024. Submitted full text; in particular printed pages iii and 2 (ECFIA, funding and occasion for the research).Available to the author, not publicly retrievable.
- 44.Haas, J. / Schack-Kirchner, H. / Lang, F.: Evaluierung von Ausmaß und Ursachen einer Schadstofffreisetzung aus Urnen in Bestattungswäldern. Umweltbundesamt TEXTE 142/2019. In particular model ashes/extraction and page 72: oxygen contact, inert post-treatment and reference to Brill (2002).