Toxic substance list: hexavalent chromium compounds
Chromium is a naturally occurring metal that is present principally in the trivalent or hexavalent forms in small amounts throughout the Canadian environment.
According to the 1994 Priority Substances List Assessment Report, chromium is used in a wide variety of industrial applications in Canada including metal finishing, leather tanning, and wood preservation. It is also used in the production of stainless and heat-resistant steels, and refractory products such as bricks and mortars. Both trivalent and hexavalent forms of chromium are released into the environment in Canada because of these industrial uses, as well as from the production and combustion of fossil fuels, and the smelting and refining of nonferrous base metals.
There is more than one CAS number that applies to this group of substances.
Risk Assessment
- Priority Substances List Assessment Report, Chromium and its Compounds
- Order Adding Toxic Substances to Schedule 1 to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
- CEPA 1999 Schedule 1 - List of Toxic Substances - This group of substances has been added to the List of Toxic Substances. They are entering or may enter the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that:
- have or may have an immediate or long-term harmful effect on the environment or its biological diversity.
- constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health.
- Full life cycle management of the substance (Track 2) under the Toxic Substances Management Policy
- Risk evaluation determining whether environmental emergency planning is required under the Environmental Emergency Regulations set under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999 (CEPA 1999): chromic acid (CAS #:7738-94-5) and chromium trioxide (CAS #: 1333-82-0), (hexavalent chromium compounds)
Sources
This group of substances was identified as entering the environment from the following sources:
- Metal Finishing Sector
- Base metals smelting sector
- Steel manufacturing sector
- Wood Preservation Sector
Risk Management Tools
Tools developed to manage risks associated with the group of substances:
- Chromium Electroplating, Chromium Anodizing and Reverse Etching Regulations
- Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 Federal Environmental Quality Guidelines Hexavalent Chromium
- Pollution Prevention Planning Notices - Wood Preservation Facilities (notice completed)
- Base metal smelters sector: environmental performance agreements overview
- Environmental Code of Practice for base metals smelters and refineries
- Environmental Code of Practice for integrated steel mills
- Environmental Code of Practice for Non-Integrated Steel Mills
Other Information
Contact
National Chromium Coordinator
Chemical Production and Products Division
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Email address: chrome@ec.gc.ca