Description
Cadmium, chromium, copper, gold, nickel, and silver are the metals most commonly used to plate plastic, rubber, or metal parts. The electoplating system includes two electrodes and an electolye of the metal salt in solution. Electrolyte mist is generated during the electroplating process, and this is the source of air contamination and worker exposure. Concentrated acids and alkalis are used to prepare the electoplating baths. The toxic gases hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen sulfide can be released if acids come in contact with cyanides or sulfides. Nitrogen oxides can be released from baths containing nitric acid. Other plating processes can generate mists of chromic acid, sulfuric acid, hydrofluoric acid, ammonia, and zinc chloride. [Burgess, p. 227-40]