Hexavalent chromium is a form of the metallic element chromium. Chromium is a naturally occurring element found in rocks, animals, plants, soil, and volcanic dust and gases. It comes in several different forms, including trivalent chromium and hexavalent chromium.SkipNavigationHexavalentChromiumNIEHSHomePageHealth&EducationBrochures&FactSheetsEnvironmentalHealthTopicsConditions&DiseasesEnvironmentalAgentsAcrylamideAirPollutionandYourHealthAlgalBloomsAllergens&IrritantsDustMitesandCockroachesPetAllergensPollenSmokingandVapingAloeVeraArsenicBisphenolA(BPA)CellPhoneRadioFrequencyRadiationClimateChangeCosmeticsandYourHealthDioxinsElectric&MagneticFieldsEndocrineDisruptorsEssentialOilsFlameRetardantsFormaldehydeGinkgoHairDyeHazardousMaterial/WasteHexavalentChromiumHexavalentChromiumHydraulicFracturing&HealthLeadMercuryMoldNanomaterialsOzonePerfluoroalkylandPolyfluoroalkylSubstances(PFAS)PesticidesRadonSafeWaterandYourHealthSoyInfantFormulaExpertPanelEvaluationofSoyInfantFormulaMeetingSummary&ExpertPanelConclusionsStyreneWeatherExtremesEnvironmentalHealthScienceBasicsPopulationResearchEnfermedadesProvocadasporelAmbientedeAaZScienceEducationKidsEnvironment|KidsHealthResearchFundingOpportunitiesCareers&TrainingNews&EventsAboutNIEHSTableofContentsFurtherReadingIntroductionWhatishexavalentchromium?Hexavalentchromiumisaformofthemetallicelementchromium.Chromiumisanaturallyoccurringelementfoundinrocks,animals,plants,soil,andvolcanicdustandgases.Itcomesinseveraldifferentforms,includingtrivalentchromiumandhexavalentchromium.Trivalentchromiumisoftenreferredtoaschromium(III)andisproposedtobeanessentialnutrientforthebody.Hexavalentchromium,orchromium(VI),isgenerallyproducedbyindustrialprocesses.Howishexavalentchromiumused?Chromiumcompounds,suchashexavalentchromium,arewidelyusedinelectroplating,stainlesssteelproduction,leathertanning,textilemanufacturing,andwoodpreservation.TheU.S.isoneoftheworld'sleadingproducersofchromiumcompounds.Howarepeopleexposedtohexavalentchromium?Hexavalentch