need help with casebook

Professor’s name

ENGL 1110

Due date

Dotaniya, M L., J K. Thakur, V D. Meena, D K. Jajoria, and Gopal Rathor. "Chromium Pollution: A Threat TO Environment." Agricultural Reviews 352.2 (2014): 153-157. Web. 5 Oct. 2014.

In the article titled “Chromium Pollution: A threat to Environment”, Dotaniya, Thakur, Meena, Jajoria, and Rathor discuss that pollution of soil and water by chromium (Cr). Chromium (Cr) has become a global issue. Heavy metals like chromium (Cr) can be dangerous depending on the concentrations and oxidation state. Chromium (Cr) has been used in metal alloys and pigments for paints, cement, rubber, paper, and other materials. Although Chromium (Cr) exist in nature and in the creatures bodies, it has many impacts on different creatures including plant, animals, and even humans; that is if the concentration of it exceeds the limits.

Putting all of this together, this article answers two research questions. These two questions ask about what chemicals or industrial processes can harm our planet, and what effects come from those chemicals or processes. The periodic table, that is a table shows lists of chemicals and how they are grouped, contains a lot of metals can turn harmful if their concentrations exceed the limits. Along with other minerals, Dotaniya et al. say Chromium (Cr) has become a major issue recently. Chromium has several oxidations states. It is used in many products or in processes of producing other products. The burning of fossil fuels without scrubbers, and improper incineration of waste materials are sources of the issues. Because chromium (Cr) and Chromium oxides have been produced as by-products in industries, chromium and its oxides are released from industries as wastes (Dotaniya et al. 154-155). As it is known that the industrial wastes are disposed to either air or oceans, this may harm the living creatures including us, humans. The authors say, “Chromium is one of the toxic heavy metals as well as survival of human beings on earth” (Dotaniya et al. 155). Thus, the disposal of chromium and its oxides may end up harming us through its toxicity. This actually can be done by the food chain. For example, suppose a chicken got intoxicated by chromium, and then another creature ate that chicken, that creature would get intoxicated as well. Chromium oxides can also harm us through inhalation, and skin contact. Depending on the oxidation state of the chromium oxides, the effects differ.

In short, some metals such as chromium can harm the living creatures if the concentrations exceed the limits. The effects differ depending on the concentration and oxidation state of chromium. The industrial processes and industrial wastes are two sources of this kind of pollution.