Tarong power Station releases at least 81 kilograms of Chromium VI into the environment per year. This is an extremely toxic substance and you may have heard of it from Erin Brokovich.
This is just one of the many extremely toxic substances that are being released into the rural environment within the Nanango Shire.
How might chromium (VI) compounds enter my body?
Air-borne particles can be breathed in. Skin exposure to chromium (VI) will be especially noticed by those individuals with skin allergies.
Breathing in chromium (VI) compounds can damage and irritate your nose, throat, lungs, stomach and intestines. It may lead to asthma and other allergic reactions. Exposure to chromium (VI) can cause stomach upsets, ulcers, convulsions, kidney and liver damage. Long-term exposure to airborne chromium (VI) can have adverse effects on the respiratory and the immune systems and can cause cancer. Skin contact with liquids and solids may lead to skin ulcers, redness and swelling
Where in the environment do chromium (VI) compounds end up?
Chromium (VI) is released into the air, soil and water during the manufacture and disposal of products and chemicals containing chromium (VI) or the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil or gas). Airborne chromium (VI) particles will settle in less than 10 days, depending on particle size, and will stick strongly to soil particles. Small amounts may travel from the soil to groundwater. Chromium (VI) in water will stick to dirt particles that fall to the bottom with only a small amount dissolving.
What effect might chromium (VI) compounds have on the environment?
Speciation
Compounds of two species of chromium are on the NPI reporting list, chromium (VI) and chromium (III). The environmental effects of chromium (VI) compounds will be quite different from that of chromium (III) compounds. Chromium (VI) can have a high to moderate, acute toxic effect on plants, birds or land animals. This can mean death of animals, birds or fish and death or low growth rate in plants. Chromium (VI) does not breakdown or degrade easily and there is a high potential for accumulation of chromium (VI) in fish life.
http://www.npi.gov.au/database/substance-info/profiles/25.html
