Hexavalent Chromium Health Effects

Chromium is a chemical compound that is found readily in nature. There are three forms of this compound that can be looked into. The first being metallic chromium (Cr[0]), the second, trivalent chromium (Cr[III]) and the third hexavalent chromium (Cr[VI]). It is this third form of chromium that has been found to be the most dangerous and leads to varied hexavalent chromium health effects. Hexavalent chromium is formed when trivalent chromium (Cr[III]) is taken through a heating process where it interacts with other mineral bases and oxygen. It has been seen that hexavalent chromium has very far reaching effects on the body and causes for grave concerns. Hexavalent chromium is present in several forms in the environment and it is when it enters the body that the hexavalent chromium health effects begin to make way.

Hexavalent chromium can be introduced into our bodies through more than one medium. It can be inhaled through the air and the effect can be seen on the body. A person is exposed to hexavalent chromium in the form of chromate pigments in paints etc, as chromates in anti corrosive agents, as fumes of welding, during smelting of chromium ore and the like. Along with that, hexavalent chromium health effects in drinking water can also cause certain health effects. It has been seen that the exposure to this chemical element causes severe health effects which need to be studied in detail. Let us study this issue further and try and understand what these effects are.

Hexavalent Chromium Effects on Health

The hexavalent chromium health effects are seen to affect the overall health of a person. The way in which this chemical compound affects the body and the severity of the symptoms will depend on the amount and the concentration of the exposure or ingestion. In the remainder of this article we shall concentrate on what these health effects from the toxicity of chromium are.

• Hexavalent chromium can cause mild symptoms like runny nose, constant water formation in the eyes, scratchy sensations in the throat and more of the same.
• If the hexavalent chromium is more concentrated then it can cause a damage to the liver and other digestive organs. This has been seen to cause severe effects when hexavalent chromium water filters are brought into the picture.
• Constant and concentrated exposure to hexavalent chromium is known to lead to lung cancer which can prove to be fatal.
• It has been proved that this chemical contains cancer producing properties which increases the risk of developing cancer of all those parts that are exposed to it or come in contact with it.
• It causes kidney problems, gastrointestinal complications, compromises on the quality of blood as well as lowers the immunity of the person.
• It affects the condition of the skin as well. A person exposed to this chemical compound will develop boils, ulcers, skin rashes, and discoloration of skin. The skin might also be prone to itching.
• One of the chromium side effects is that it can lead to a reaction on the skin surface can also cause an allergic reaction called dermatitis.
• Skin allergy can also lead to the skin getting swollen, red, full of rashes that can become thick and develop a crust.
• There will be bouts of coughing and burning sensations in the throat and nose.
• Overexposure can also lead to nosebleeds.

As is clear, there are several effects of hexavalent chromium that we've seen. A careful study of the same makes one point clear - that an exposure or ingestion of hexavalent chromium is seen to have an effect on all major organs and functions of the body. That is why it becomes important to know the hexavalent chromium health effects so that one is aware of how it can be introduced in the body and what it can lead to.