As a general statement, exposure to chlorinated hydrocarbon has been associated with suppression of the immune system and cancer. The majority are volatile. They are manufactured for a number of uses including the manufacture of chemicals, as degreasing agents, and as solvents for oils, fats, varnishes, rubber, tars, waxes and resins. It has a variety of forms. Ingesting very large amounts of chromium can cause ulcers, convulsions, kidney and liver damage, and even death.
Data are inconclusive about the cancer-causing ability of other forms of chromium.
It is found naturally in a wide variety of mineral salts and organic compounds, as well as in metallic form. Copper is widely used in cooking utensils and water distribution systems, as well as in fertilizers, herbicides, and paint. It is also used in animal feed additives for growth promotion and disease control. Anthropogenic emissions include smelters, power stations and waste incinerators. The major release of copper to land is from copper mine tailings, sewage sludge and agricultural applications.