Environmental Biochemistry of Chromium

Chromium (Cr) was first discovered in Siberian red lead ore (crocoite) in 1798 by the French chemist, Vauquelin. Named for the bright colors of its compounds, Cr has since found an extremely wide variety of industrial uses that exploit these colors, as well as various other characteristics of Cr, such as strength, hardness and corrosion resistance of the metal, and the oxidizing capabilities of certain Cr species. Not surprisingly, large volumes of Cr waste in various chemical forms are generated from industrial processes and discharged into the environment. While Cr, in trace amounts, is essential for human life, exposure to some Cr compounds can pose a major health risk to all forms of life. This review will discuss some of the environmental impacts of chromium, including novel bioremediation techniques currently under development for detoxifying Cr-contaminated water and soils.