Environmental effects of chromium
There are several different kinds of chromium that differ in their effects upon organisms. Chromium enters the air, water and soil in the chromium(III) and chromium(VI) form through natural processes and human activities.
The main human activities that increase the concentrations of chromium (III) are steal, leather and textile manufacturing. The main human activities that increase chromium(VI) concentrations are chemical, leather and textile manufacturing, electro painting and other chromium(VI) applications in the industry. These applications will mainly increase concentrations of chromium in water. Through coal combustion chromium will also end up in air and through waste disposal chromium will end up in soils.