There's gold in them there hills!

Chromium Water Toxicity

Most people, when they think of chrome or chromium, think of the silver shine on the bumper of older cars. But chromium has many more uses than metal coating and some compounds of the element can be dangerous when ingested in excess.

Chromium can have a valance of anywhere from -2 to +6 which means it combines easily with other elements. Its most common valance, however, is either +3 (as in CrCl3) or +6 (as in K2Cr04). Valance is the charge it takes in combining with elements to form compounds.

Chromium is readily used in manufacturing. A list could begin with photography, leather tanning, chrome plating, and the manufacture of catalysts, paints, fungicides, glass, and ceramics. For years lead chromate (PbCrO₄) was used on school buses because the color was bright and did not fade in the sun. However, because of environmental and health risks as a chromium VI compound, the paint has been replaced with less risky pigments.

Chromium enters our air as aerosols but precipitation removes most of it. Rain only contains perhaps one microgram of chrome per liter. However, chrome in water is a different story. Generally surface water contains up to two micrograms of chromium per liter. Groundwater is generally less than 1 microgram/liter. However, near plants using chromium in their manufacturing as much as 40 to 80 micrograms/liter have been found. Though we take in the most chromium compounds through the food we eat, nearly10% can be ingested through our water supplies.

Some chromium compounds are actually good for us. In fact, Chromium (III) is an essential nutrient that helps the body use sugar, protein, and fat. An intake of 50–200 µg of chromium (III) per day is recommended for adults. Less than this may result in decreased growth, weight loss, nervous system malfunction, or a condition similar to diabetes. For this reason, chromium (III) compounds have been used as dietary supplements and benefit us when taken moderately. Excessive amounts even of helpful chromium (III), can harm the body.

On the other hand, other forms of chromium, especially chromium (VI), can be dangerous when taken in excess. “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.”

Other problems related to excessive amounts of chrome in the body include liver problems (elevated hepatic enzymes), thrombocytopenia (low blood platelets), renal failure (kidney failure), rhabdomyolysis (breakdown of muscle fibers that can lead to kidney damage), hemolysis (breakdown of red blood cells), changes in thought processes, chest pain, gastrointestinal disorders, erythema/flushing/rash, headache, dizziness, and agitation.

Chromium, like other heavy metals, may have other negative effects we do not yet know about. How much chromium VI are you ingesting daily? I checked our city water quality report but chromium was not on the list. Hopefully it is at a safe level. Just to be sure, our family purchased an activated charcoal filter for our cooking and drinking water.

Our filter, the Berkey Light from the acclaimed Berkey Water Filter line, claims it removes 95% of the heavy metals, including chromium, from the water. Now we are confident that we are not placing our family at risk with contamination of these heavy metal toxins.

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