Chromium (VI) compounds: Health effects
Description
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.
Entering the body
Air-borne particles can be breathed in. Skin exposure to chromium (VI) will be especially noticed by those individuals with skin allergies.
Exposure
Dangerous exposure to chromium (VI) happens mostly from breathing workplace air, from welding, chrome plating and handling some chromate chemicals.
Health guidelines
Australian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines (NHMRC and ARMCANZ, 1996):
0.05 mg/L (i.e. 0.00005 g/L).
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