Chromium chemical properties make it an industrial utility in steel
Lenssen (1991) wrote that , Chromium 3 which is naturally available is of significant nutritional importance unlike chromium 6 which is an industrial product that has severe human health implications. Chromium is required in very small amount in the human body. Chromium chemical properties make it an industrial utility in steel, dye, leather and wood industries. Human health is contaminated by chromium through breathing and ingestion either in food or through water. In our case scenario, contamination of the stream water upstream by the chromium components is likely to be realized downstream. Chromium contact with human is likely to be realized through ingestion of the irrigated food crops and drinking of water from the stream. Health effects likely to be realized include liver inflation, chrome ulcers and ulcers of the hand and nose. The latency period of chromium due to exposure is usually fifteen to twenty years, this exposure is short-term and does not build-up with time. Human body cells have the tendency to readily absorb chromium-6 which is converted to chromium-3 in the tissues and an excess of chromium is a health risk. It is important to note Chromium-6 is also a carcinogen that is inhaled and can result to lung cancer (Saleska, 1989).
