Substance fact sheet
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) provides information on the types and amounts of pollutants being emitted in the Australian community.
This page provides facts about chromium (VI) compounds. It describes how you might be exposed to this substance, how exposure might effect you and the environment, common uses, comparative data about chromium (VI) compounds and its physical and chemical properties.
For more information about some of the terms used in this page, see the NPI glossary.
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) holds data for all sources of chromium (VI) compounds emissions in Australia.
Speciation
Compounds of two species of chromium are on the NPI reporting list, chromium (VI) and chromium (III). The health effects of chromium (VI) compounds will be quite different from that of chromium (III) compounds.
Very small quantities of chromium (III) compounds are essential for your health and well-being. Chromium VI compounds are usually highly toxic. Breathing in chromium (VI) compounds can damage and irritate your nose, throat, lungs, stomach and intestines. It may lead to asthma and other allergic reactions. Exposure to chromium (VI) can cause stomach upsets, ulcers, convulsions, kidney and liver damage. Long-term exposure to airborne chromium (VI) can have adverse effects on the respiratory and the immune systems and can cause cancer. Skin contact with liquids and solids may lead to skin ulcers, redness and swelling. A US expert panel investigated chromium-contaminated soils in a residential area and concluded that soil concentrations of 2,800mg/kg (i.e. 2.8 g/kg) chromium (III) and 180 mg/kg (i.e. 0.18 g/kg) chromium (VI) do not pose a health hazard following acute or chronic exposure for residents living on or near the contaminated sites. These findings and recent reports of Health-Based Soil Action Levels and case studies involving human exposure to chromium (VI) in soil and ground water put the relative toxicity of chromium (III) and chromium (VI) into perspective. Chromium (VI) is more toxic than chromium (III) but low levels can be tolerated. The human studies showed that the gastrointestinal tract can reduce ingested chromium (VI) to chromium (III) at concentrations up to 10 mg chromium (VI)/L and soil concentrations of 1240 ppm chromium (VI) do not result in allergic contact dermatitis in 99.9% of the general population.
Air-borne particles can be breathed in. Skin exposure to chromium (VI) will be especially noticed by those individuals with skin allergies.
Dangerous exposure to chromium (VI) happens mostly from breathing workplace air, from welding, chrome plating and handling some chromate chemicals.
See Sources for more information.
Australian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines (NHMRC and ARMCANZ, 1996):
0.05 mg/L (i.e. 0.00005 g/L).
The Australian NOHSC National Exposure Standards Database link is probably the most useful source of information.
Speciation
Compounds of two species of chromium are on the NPI reporting list, chromium (VI) and chromium (III). The environmental effects of chromium (VI) compounds will be quite different from that of chromium (III) compounds. Chromium (VI) can have a high to moderate, acute toxic effect on plants, birds or land animals. This can mean death of animals, birds or fish and death or low growth rate in plants. Chromium (VI) does not breakdown or degrade easily and there is a high potential for accumulation of chromium (VI) in fish life.
Chromium (VI) released into the atmosphere is carried in the air as particles or dust for a period of time. As it settles it will contaminate soil and water with only small amounts dissolving. Rain will remove chromium (VI) particles from the atmosphere, depositing them in the ground, or they may be transported over long distances by wind.
Chromium (VI) is released into the air, soil and water during the manufacture and disposal of products and chemicals containing chromium (VI) or the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil or gas). Airborne chromium (VI) particles will settle in less than 10 days, depending on particle size, and will stick strongly to soil particles. Small amounts may travel from the soil to groundwater. Chromium (VI) in water will stick to dirt particles that fall to the bottom with only a small amount dissolving.
Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters (ANZECC, 1992): Maximum concentration in fresh water: 0.01 mg/L (i.e. 0.00001 g/L); maximum concentration in marine water: 0.05 mg/L (i.e. 0.00005 g/L).
Is used to make bricks and linings for furnaces. Compounds are used for chrome plating (chromic acid), manufacture of dyes (soluble chromates), wood treatment and water treatment.
Emissions to air and water from:
Chemical manufacturing industry e.g. dyes for paints, rubber and plastic products.
Metal finishing industry e.g. chrome plating.
Manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, wood, stone, clay and glass products.
Electrical and aircraft manufacturers, steam and air conditioning supply services.
Cement producing plants as cement contains chromium.
Incineration of council refuse and sewage sludge
Combustion of oil and coal.
Facilities below the reporting threshold
Chromium (VI) compounds are not found in nature. Chromium is usually found as the Cr(III) form, as the mineral Chromite and in many soils.
Emission to air from the wearing down of brake linings containing chromium.
Motor vehicle exhaust (crude oil contains traces of chromium (III) compounds, these may oxidise to the chromium (VI) state during fuel combustion in vehicle engines).
Some inks, paints and paper.
Some rubber and composite floor coverings.
Some treated (preserved) timber products.
Some toner powders used in copying machines.
Approximately 400 substances were considered for inclusion on the NPI reporting list. A ranking and total hazard score was given based on health and environmental hazards and human and environmental exposure to the substance.
Chromium (VI) compounds was ranked as 2 out of 400. The total hazard score taking into account both human health and environmental criteria is 5.5.
On a health hazard rating of 0 - 3 chromium (VI) compounds registers 2.5. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to health, 2 represents a medium hazard and 1 is harmful to health.
On an environmental rating of 0 - 3 chromium (VI) compounds registers 3.0. A score of 3 represents a very high hazard to the environment and 0 a negligible hazard.
Factors taken into account to obtain this ranking and these scores include the extent of the material's toxic or poisonous nature and/or its lack of toxicity, and the measure of its ability to remain active in the environment and whether it accumulates in living organisms. It does not take into account exposure to the substance. Environmental exposure is reflected in the NPI rank for this substance (see comparative data below). A substance that scores highly as an environmental hazard is oxides of nitrogen at 3.0 and one of the lower scores is carbon monoxide at 0.8. A substance that scores highly as a health hazard is arsenic at 2.3 and one of the lowest scores is ammonia at 1.0.
| Substance name | Chromium (VI) compounds |
| CASR number | 7440-47-3 (Cr metal), 18540-29-9 (Cr (VI)) |
| Molecular formula | Cr6+ |
| Synonyms | Chromium (VI) is an oxidation state of the element chromium. Other common oxidation states of chromium include 0 (the metallic element chromium), and III (the state in which chromium is found in nature. Chromium (III) compounds are dealt with elsewhere in the NPI). Hexavalent chromium compounds (VI) include ammonium dichromate, barium chromate, calcium chromate, chromium trioxide, lead chromate, sodium dichromate, strontium chromate, potassium chromate, potassium dichromate, sodium chromate, and zinc chromate. |
| Physical properties: Vary widely depending on the particular compound, for example: Most Cr(VI) compounds are soluble in water, however, barium chromate (a yellow powder with specific gravity = 4.49) and lead chromate (an orange-yellow powder with specific gravity = 6.3) are insoluble in water, and calcium chromate (a yellow powder) is slightly soluble in water. Sodium dichromate is in the form of red to orange crystals, with specific gravity = 2.35, and is soluble in water. Chromic acid (H2CrO4) exists only as salts (e.g. lead chromate, barium chromate) or in solution. |
|
| Chemical properties: Chromic acid is very reactive. Most Cr(VI) solutions are powerful oxidising agents in acidic conditions, but much less oxidising under alkaline conditions. Chromium trioxides are soluble in alcohol, ethanol, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid; when heated to decomposition chromium trioxides emit smoke and irritating fumes. Lead chromate is insoluble in water, acetic acid, and ammonia, but is soluble in acid and alkalies; when heated to decomposition emits toxic fumes of lead. Potassium chromate and potassium dichromate are soluble in cold and hot water and insoluble in alcohol. Sodium dichromate is soluble in cold and hot water and insoluble in alcohol; toxic fumes of sodium monoxide are emitted when this compound is heated to decomposition. Strontium chromate is soluble in cold and hot water, hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, acetic acid, and ammonium salts. Zinc chromate is insoluble in cold water and acetone, dissolves in hot water, and is soluble in acid and liquid ammonia. |
|
There is more information that may be useful in understanding some of the issues surrounding the NPI.