When you think of chromium or chrome, you probably think of the silvery shine on the bumper of a car, at least on the old ones. However, though most of this chromium has been replaced with veneer, the metal is still used in manufacturing and can be dangerous when ingested in excessive amounts.
Chromium can have a valance of anywhere from -2 to +6 which means it combines easily with other elements. It usually, however, combines with a valance of +6 (as in K2Cr04 potassium chromate) or +3 (as in CrCl3 chromium chloride). The valance of an ion determines how it will combine with other elements and thus what compounds are formed.
Chromium has been used in a variety of ways in manufacturing. Some examples include leather tanning, the manufacture of catalysts, paints, fungicides, glass and ceramics, in photography, as well as chrome plating. For many years the yellow school buses were painted with lead chromate (PbCrO4) because the color was bright and didn’t fade. However, because of environmental and health risks as a chromium VI compound, the paint has been replaced with less risky pigments.
Chromium gets into the air through aerosols but precipitation easily removes it. Rain contains only a trace- generally less than a microgram- of chrome per liter. However, water is a different story. Surface water can contain upwards of 2 micrograms of chromium per liter. Groundwater is generally less than 1 microgram/liter. However, near manufacturing plants, measurements of 40-80 micrograms/liter have been found. Though it is true that most of our intake of chromium is in the food we eat, it is also true that nearly 10% can come in our water.
Chromium is certainly not all bad. In fact, Chromium (III) is an essential nutrient that helps the body use sugar, protein, and fat. At least 50–200 µg of chromium (III) each day is recommended for adults. If we don’t get that amount, it may result in weight loss or decreased growth, improper function of the nervous system, and a diabetic-like condition. Therefore, chromium (III) compounds have been used as dietary supplements and are beneficial if taken in recommended dosages. Excessive amounts even of helpful chromium (III), can harm the body.
However, other forms of chromium, especially chromium (VI) can be harmful. “Calcium chromate, chromium trioxide, lead chromate, strontium chromate, and zinc chromate are known human carcinogens. An increase in the incidence of lung cancer has been observed among workers in industries that produce chromate and manufacture pigments containing chromate.”
Here are some other problems related to excessive intake of chromium: liver problems (elevated hepatic enzymes), renal failure (kidney failure), hemolysis (breakdown of red blood cells), thrombocytopenia (low blood platelets), changes in thought processes, chest pain, gastrointestinal disorders, erythema/flushing/rash, headache, dizziness, agitation, and rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of muscle fibers that can lead to kidney damage).
Chromium, like other heavy metals, may have other negative effects we do not yet know about. Do you know how much chromium (VI) you are ingesting daily? I checked our city water quality report and found no mention of chromium. Hopefully it is at a safe level. But our family installed an activated charcoal filter for our drinking and cooking water, just to be on the safe side.
Article Directory : http://www.articlecube.com
Our filter, the Berkey Light - one of the most popular of the Berkey Water Filters, removes 95% of the heavy metals, including chromium, from our water. Now we are confident that we are not placing our family at risk with contamination of these heavy metal toxins.
