Where It Comes From
Natural soils/rocks; leather tanning, metalworking, pigment manufacture; releases from waste sites [1][2].
How You Are Exposed
Eating food and drinking water; breathing dust near tanneries/metal shops or during stainless‑steel work; skin contact with leather or contaminated dust/soil [1][2].
Why It Matters
Essential in tiny amounts, but excess can cause skin allergy/irritation, breathing symptoms from dust, and possible liver/kidney effects; chromium(III) compounds are not classifiable as carcinogenic (unlike chromium(VI)) [1][3].
Who Is at Risk
Workers in tanning, pigments, metal production/welding; people near tanneries or waste sites; those with chromium allergy; young children [1][2].
How to Lower Your Exposure
Use ventilation and protective gear at work; wash hands and wet‑wipe dust; limit kids’ soil contact near industry; check water reports for total chromium; use certified filters if elevated [1][2].
References
- [1]ATSDR. Chromium ToxFAQs. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts7.pdf
- [2]EPA. Chromium in Drinking Water. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations/chromium-drinking-water
- [3]IARC. Arsenic, Metals, Fibres, and Dusts (Vol. 100C). International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2012. https://publications.iarc.fr/Book-And-Report-Series/Iarc-Monographs-On-The-Identification-Of-Carcinogenic-Hazards-To-Humans/Arsenic-Metals-Fibres-And-Dusts-2012