Toxicity of Chromium

For our bodies to function normally, we require various nutrients and minerals including chromium. Chromium performs many functions in the human body: They are:

• It helps in the catabolism of fats and carbohydrates.
• It maintains the blood-glucose levels in the body, and thus helps the diabetics.
• It prevents high-blood pressure by increasing the production of good cholesterol and fatty acids.

Chromium is found in two forms, namely chromium (III), also known as trivalent chromium and chromium (VI), known as hexavalent chromium.

Chromium (III) can be found in various foods such as sweet potato, brewer's yeast, corn, whole grains, beef, liver, poultry, turkey, liver, oysters, shellfish, and certain vegetables and fruits, such as spinach, garlic, broccoli, lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, apple, banana, orange. Eating foods containing chromium (III) is necessary to keep the body healthy.

However, chromium (VI), which does not occur naturally, but is generated due to industrial pollution, is toxic and can have many harmful effects on the human body.

It is mostly the industrial workers who are affected by the toxicity. Chromium (VI) can enter the body of the workers if they are involved in tasks such as production of chemicals like chromic acid, chrome electroplating, welding chrome alloys, welding stainless steel, and applying paints which contain chromate.

Following are some of the harmful effects of this chemical compound:

• Some of the commonly observed side effects are irritation in the nose, bleeding from the nose, runny nose, and sometimes, even ulcers or holes may develop in the nasal septum.

• The affected person might experience an upset stomach, or sometimes, stomach ulcers can develop too.
• If the skin comes in contact with some of this chemical compound, it can lead to skin ulcers. Skin allergies can develop in some people leading to skin rashes, redness, itching, and swelling in the affected area.

• Exposure to hexavalent chromium can cause respiratory problems such as difficulty in breathing and coughing, and may lead to bronchitis or asthma.
• If a person ingests a huge amount of hexavalent chromium, it can lead to severe poisoning in him, causing life-threatening health conditions and diseases such as kidney damage, convulsions, liver damage, and in some cases, even death.

• According to several studies conducted on animals, it was concluded that exposure to chromium (VI) can increase the incidence of lung cancer. Renowned organizations such as World health Organization (WHO) and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) have recognized that chromium (VI) can cause cancer, and hence it is a human carcinogen.

Thus, the toxic effects of this chemical compound can produce many harmful reactions in the body. And, to make things worse, there has still been no proven or effective treatment or remedy devised to cure this.

The treatment mostly entails removing the person from any further chromium (VI) exposure and giving the body time to naturally clear itself of the hazardous metal. In case of severe poisoning, there is nothing much that can be done to cure a person.

Therefore, taking certain precautions such as wearing proper clothing and using appropriate equipment while working in proximity to chromium (VI) is the only solution to save oneself from its adverse effects.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.