People are commonly exposed to chromium by breathing it in the air. They may drink water or eat food that contains small amounts of chromium. Industrial workers may breathe airborne chromium on the job or touch substances that contain chromium. Very small amounts of chromium in people's diets are necessary for good health. But the kind of chromium in the diet is important.
Trivalent chromium is less toxic than hexavalent chromium.
Eating or drinking very small amounts of trivalent chromium promotes good health. Eating or drinking large amounts of chromium can be toxic. For example, exposure to large amounts of hexavalent chromium can cause stomach ulcers, kidney and liver damage, and even death. Breathing trivalent chromium can irritate people's lungs. Frequent or constant exposure in this way can eventually lead to bronchitis, pneumonia, asthma, or other respiratory illness.