Hexavalent Chromium: The Bane of Blue Collar Workers

Hexavalent Chromium is a dangerous chemical that can have severe adverse effects on blue collar workers. But what does it do, and how can it be mitigated?

Art by Veronica Cruz

By Erin Rought

As a blue-collar worker, we are often told about the obvious dangers of our jobs. Welders normally talk about the fumes and fires, construction workers get the talk about working in heights and possibly working in unsafe weather conditions, police officers must live with the fact that any shift could be their last shift. They signed up for the jobs knowing about these dangers, but what about the not-so-seen dangers? What about some of the fumes people breathe in? How can the invisible affect us? How could we protect ourselves if we cannot even see it? Are invisible dangers even something that should be worried about? 

Chromium is a natural element found in rocks, animals, plants, soil, and volcanic dust/gases. It has multiple forms, such as trivalent chromium and hexavalent chromium. Trivalent chromium, also called chromium (III), is an essential nutrient for the body. Hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium (VI) and Cr6, is normally produced in industrial processes, and has a bunch of terrible side effects. Hexavalent chromium, one of the most dangerous hidden dangers of most blue-collar fields but it affects everyone. After all, it is found all throughout our environment: emissions from chemical plants and facilities, cement dust, contaminated landfills, asbestos, road dust, tobacco smoke, topsoil, and rocks. It is also found in anti-algae agents, antifreeze, chrome alloy production, chrome electroplating, copier servicing, glassmaking, and so much more.  

One of the most severe side effects from hexavalent chromium is lung cancer. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have completed a study that showed people who work in industries that process or use chromium are normally exposed to higher levels of chromium than people who do not work in those industries. The studies have consistently shown that the rate of lung cancer in workers at those industries were drastically higher than other workers.

Although lung cancer is arguably one of the most dangerous side effects, there are others not far behind it, such as: nasal and sinus cancers, kidney and liver damage, nasal and skin irritation; ulceration; eye irritation and eye damage; asthma; and erosion/discoloration of the teeth. Some workers can even develop allergic contact dermatitis from handling liquids or solids containing the compound. It would be difficult for a person to notice that they have the severe side effects of this compound, due to the chronic effects (like cancer) taking longer to detect than the symptoms of acute exposure. 

While working, this specific hazard can be avoided, but The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has limited the exposure of hexavalent chromium compounds an employee can face. As for the everyday world, fear not, as avoiding hexavalent chromium is not particularly difficult when a person is outside of their workplace. The United States drinking water supply does hold naturally occurring chromium, however it is unlikely for hexavalent chromium to be in the supply. If hexavalent chromium does somehow get into the drinking water supply, it most likely got there through some type of geological need. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created a largest contaminant level for chromium in our drinking water, with that limit being one hundred parts per billion. Numerous states have lowered that limit to fifty parts per billion for their drinking water. In this study the parts are composed of total chromium, but they assume all one hundred parts are hexavalent chromium. It is recommended that if a person is worried that hexavalent chromium is present in their environment (such as water, air, and soil), that they contact their public health officials. 

To summarize, hexavalent chromium is dangerous. It does have some terrible effects on a human body if it comes into constant contact with it, but we should not be to be worried about it. OSHA and EPA have figured out a way to safely control this dangerous compound, to make it not so scary and less likely to harm us. 

Wanna chat? Email Erin at er965821@ohio.edu or follow her on Instagram @attitudesgenetic.