Chromium Information from the National Institute of Health

Chemical: Chromium

Chemical description

Chromium is a naturally-occurring element found in several forms in rocks, animals, plants, soil, and volcanic dust and gases. It has no odor. The chemical symbol for chromium is Cr.

There are several forms of chromium, which are described by different numbers in parentheses. The most common forms are elemental chromium (0), chromium (III), and chromium (VI). Chromium (III) occurs naturally in the environment and is an essential nutrient for the human body. Chromium (0) and chromium (VI) are generally produced by industrial processes.

Naturally-occurring chromium (III) is used as brick lining for high-temperature industrial furnaces, and for making metals, alloys, and chemical compounds.

Chromium (0) is a steel-gray solid metal that is used for making steel and other alloys. It is also used in nuclear and high-temperature research.

Compounds of chromium (III) and (VI) are used for chrome plating, manufacturing dyes and pigments, leather tanning, and wood preserving. Smaller amounts are used in drilling fluids, rust and corrosion inhibitors, textiles, and toner for copying machines. Chromium (VI) is also used in water treatment, fireworks, photography, process engraving, lithography, and chemical synthesis.

Tobacco leaves and tobacco products, including cigarettes, contain chromium.

How might I be exposed to chromium?

the levels in air are usually low. You may also eat food that naturally contains chromium (III), such as vegetables, fruits, meat, yeast, and grain; this kind of chromium is an essential nutrient. You can be exposed to harmful chromium by drinking well water contaminated with chromium (VI), or having skin contact with chromium if you work in a facility that uses it.

Acidic foods that come into contact with stainless steal cooking utensils might contain higher levels of chromium than other foods because of leaching from the stainless steel. You can also be exposed by using wood preservatives, cement, cleaning products, textiles, and tanned leather.

Exposure levels of chromium will be higher if you live near hazardous waste sites containing chromium or industrial facilities that use chromium, including cement-producing plants; or if you live near waterways that receive industrial discharges from electroplating, leather tanning, and textile production. You can also be exposed if you live near busy roads, because emissions from automobile brake lining and catalytic converters contain chromium.

At work, you can be exposed to chromium by breathing contaminated air or having skin contact with chromium. Industries that may use chromium include stainless steel production and welding, chromate production, chrome plating, ferrochrome production, chrome pigment production, and leather tanning. Occupations that may use chromium include painters, copy machine maintenance workers, battery makers, candle makers, dye makers, printers, rubber makers, and cement workers.

You can also be exposed to chromium at home or at work, indoors or outdoors, through smoking cigarettes or breathing second-hand smoke.

How can chromium affect my health?

The health effects of chromium and its forms are varied because each form has a different toxicity.

Chromium (VI) and its compounds are classified as carcinogens by the National Toxicology Program because they have been known to cause cancer. Long-term exposure to chromium (VI) in workplace air has been associated with lung cancer.

Accidental or intentional swallowing of large amounts of chromium (VI) can cause death, kidney and liver damage, and ulcers. Swallowing small amounts of chromium (VI) can cause unconsciousness, convulsions, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and abdominal pain. Breathing high levels of chromium (VI) can irritate the nose and cause nosebleeds, ulcers, holes in the nasal septum, and asthma attacks. Skin contact with chromium (VI) compounds can cause skin ulcers or skin allergies.

Prolonged industrial exposure to chromium compounds can cause chronic bronchitis and sinusitis. Industrial exposure to chromium fumes can cause "metal fume fever," which is a flu-like illness with metallic taste, fever, chills, aches, tightness of the chest, and cough.

Long-term exposure to chromium (0) can damage lung tissue.

If you think you have been exposed to chromium, contact your health care professional.

For poisoning emergencies or questions about possible poisons, please contact your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.

Locations where chromium may be found:

• Town Scene
• Drinking Water
• Factory
• River

• City Scene
• Brownfield
• Drinking Water
• Factory
• River

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see also:

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