Concawe, Environmental Science for the European Refining Industry, Boulevard Du Souverain 165, 1160, Brussels, Belgium.
Design of Environmental Processes Laboratory, School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, 73100, Chania, Greece.
Chemosphere. 2020 Sep;254:126876. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126876. Epub 2020 Apr 25.
Chromium is a controversial element, since it has been classified as essential trace element, to chemically and biologically inert compound, to potent intoxicator. Concerns have been risen for chromium effects on human and aquatic life because chromium has been accused for genotoxicity and carcinogenesis. Metals and their ions or complexes (and thus chromium substances) are included in the indicative list of main pollutants (Annex VIII of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC)). Biological effects of chromium are strongly depended on chromium speciation. No universal Cr or Cr discharge limits to the aquatic environment have been suggested by the EU. International bodies within the EU, such as the Helsinki Commission and the Oslo-Paris Convention, have issued recommendations on chromium discharge levels. National Cr and Cr discharge limits vary in each EU Member State with respect to the receiving water body (marine water, lake, river, sewer system). The maximum discharge limit to the aquatic environment in EU is 1 and 5 mg L for Cr and Cr, respectively. The present work summarizes EU legislation, with respect to the discharge limits to the aquatic environment for Cr and Cr. EU national limits that are currently effective are presented and compared to the limits in other parts of the world, such as Australia, Asia, USA, Latin America and South Africa. It is wise that future perspective of chromium policy should differentiate between Cr and Cr discharge limits to the aquatic environment, as analytical techniques become more sensitive and chromium speciation specific, and environmental awareness rises.
铬是一种有争议的元素，因为它既被归类为必需微量元素，又被认为是化学和生物惰性化合物，还是一种潜在的中毒物质。由于铬被指控具有遗传毒性和致癌性，人们对其对人类和水生生物的影响表示担忧。金属及其离子或配合物（因此包括铬物质）被列入主要污染物指示性清单（《水框架指令》（2000/60/EC）附件 VIII）。铬的生物学效应强烈依赖于铬的形态。欧盟尚未就铬或铬向水生环境的排放提出通用限制。欧盟内的国际机构，如赫尔辛基委员会和奥斯陆-巴黎公约，已就铬的排放水平发布了建议。每个欧盟成员国的国家铬和铬排放限制都因受纳水体（海水、湖泊、河流、污水系统）而异。欧盟向水生环境的最大排放限值分别为 1 毫克/升和 5 毫克/升。本工作总结了欧盟关于铬和铬向水生环境排放限值的立法。介绍了目前有效的欧盟国家限制，并将其与世界其他地区（如澳大利亚、亚洲、美国、拉丁美洲和南非）的限制进行了比较。随着分析技术变得更加敏感且针对特定的铬形态，以及环境意识的提高，未来的铬政策应该区分 Cr 和 Cr 向水生环境的排放限制，这是明智的。
