Divine Aleru is an accomplished biochemist and researcher with a specialized background in environmental toxicology, focusing on the impacts of heavy metals on human health. With deep-rooted expertise in microbiome signatures analysis, Divine seamlessly blends rigorous scientific training with her passion for deciphering the intricate relationships between environmental exposures and the human microbiome. Her career is distinguished by a commitment to advancing integrative health interventions, leveraging cutting-edge microbiome research to illuminate how toxic metals shape biological systems. Driven by curiosity and innovation, Divine is dedicated to translating complex environmental findings into actionable insights that improve individual and public health outcomes. 
Divine Aleru is an accomplished biochemist and researcher with a specialized background in environmental toxicology, focusing on the impacts of heavy metals on human health. With deep-rooted expertise in microbiome signatures analysis, Divine seamlessly blends rigorous scientific training with her passion for deciphering the intricate relationships between environmental exposures and the human microbiome. Her career is distinguished by a commitment to advancing integrative health interventions, leveraging cutting-edge microbiome research to illuminate how toxic metals shape biological systems. Driven by curiosity and innovation, Divine is dedicated to translating complex environmental findings into actionable insights that improve individual and public health outcomes. What was issued?
The chromium NNR 2023 team issued a scoping review on chromium to guide the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations. The review looks at forms, intake, health effects, and safety. The team finds no strong proof to set intake advice for the public. EFSA also gives no intake values. The review notes a U.S. EPA limit for total chromium in drinking water at 0.1 mg/L and flags hexavalent chromium in water as a concern. It also reports an EFSA opinion that supports chromium picolinate at up to 250 µg/day in supplements.
Who is affected?
Food makers, supplement firms, certifiers, labs, and public health teams all face impact. Water utilities and local agencies that test water face impact. Workers who are exposed to chromium dust or fumes face risk. Infants on parenteral nutrition and people who use high-dose chromium pills need extra care. Towns with hexavalent chromium in water need strong control.
Most important findings
The review sets key points. First, it finds no clear marker to judge chromium status and no clear signs in healthy people. So it sets no intake target, and EFSA sets none as well. Second, hexavalent chromium causes cancer by air intake; water intake still raises concern, so managers must keep water levels low. Third, makers see mild side effects from trivalent chromium at 150–1,000 µg/day; EFSA supports chromium picolinate up to 250 µg/day. Fourth, the U.S. EPA keeps total chromium in drinking water at 0.1 mg/L. Fifth, national emission cuts in the Nordics help lower risk, but water and product checks still matter.
For exposure cuts, industry can act now. Map chromium sources in water, grain, spices, fish, and contact parts. Prefer low-leach steel grades and clean process steps. Avoid Cr(VI) pigments and baths. Use supplier specs and batch tests for total chromium and Cr(VI). Keep supplement doses low and label forms. For enforcement, align water tests with the 0.1 mg/L total chromium cap, add a Cr(VI) screen where risk rises, and keep chain-of-custody and method blanks in every run. Train teams on sample tools that do not shed chromium.
Key implications
Industry should not chase a numeric intake goal, since no regulatory body has set one. Teams should set ALARA targets for chromium, with a hard guard on Cr(VI). Food certifiers and HMTC can fold this into rules that ask for total chromium and Cr(VI) panels in high-risk items and inputs. Public health teams should watch small groups at risk: infants on parenteral feeds, high-dose pill users, and towns with old pipes or legacy sites. Over time, labs and makers should press for one core test panel and a shared limit plan for Cr(VI) in foods, to align with water rules and keep trust.
Citation
Henriksen C, Bügel S. Chromium – a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023. Food Nutr Res. 2023 Dec 6;67. doi: 10.29219/fnr.v67.10325
Chromium (Cr) is a widely used metal with significant public health implications, especially in its toxic hexavalent form. The HMTC program’s stricter regulations ensure that chromium exposure is minimized, safeguarding consumer health, particularly for vulnerable populations.
The ALARA principle (“As Low As Reasonably Achievable”) is a safety standard that minimizes harmful exposures like heavy metals beyond regulatory compliance. By applying continuous reduction practices, it ensures food and consumer products meet the lowest feasible contamination levels, protecting vulnerable populations from cumulative risks.
