Aniruddha Roy, Ayan Das and Nirmal Paul, Global Institute of Management & Technology, India

Some metals as micronutrients have a major role in the life and growth process of plants and animals. However, certain forms of some metals may also act as toxic material even in relatively small quantities. Chromium is such a metal, whose concentration above a certain limit may cause a serious problem to the health of living organisms. Chromium (Cr) may occur in several chemical forms in organic and inorganic systems. In biological systems only Cr (III) and Cr (VI) are significant. Among these two states, trivalent chromium (Cr-III) is considered as an essential component, while hexavalent Chromium (Cr-VI) in biological system has been detected as responsible for so many diseases, even some specific forms of cancer. This paper intends to present the adverse effect of Cr(VI) on environment as well as on human beings and also try to find a way out to dissolve the problem by a newly developed efficient and cost effective technique.

Heavy Metals, Chromium, Trivalent Chromium, Hexavalent Chromium, Toxicological Effects, Mutagenic Effects, Cr(VI) Reduction.