Baby Safety / Compounds / Potassium dichromate

Is Potassium dichromate safe for babies and kids?

Context-dependent for kids

(Babies-specific data is limited; this page draws from human pregnant context.) Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Potassium dichromate, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

What is potassium dichromate?

The IUPAC name is Potassium dichromate(VI).

Also known as: Potassium dichromate(VI), Potassium bichromate, Iopezite, Kaliumdichromat.

IUPAC name
Potassium dichromate(VI)
CAS number
7778-50-9
Molecular formula
K2Cr2O7
Molecular weight
294.18 g/mol
SMILES
[O-][Cr](=O)(=O)O[Cr](=O)(=O)[O-].[K+].[K+]
PubChem CID
24502

Risk for babies

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Potassium dichromate, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Risk for pregnant and nursing people

Context-dependent

Pregnancy alters the metabolism and distribution of Potassium dichromate, potentially increasing fetal exposure. The developing embryo/fetus is vulnerable during organogenesis (weeks 3-8) and neurological development. Placental transfer should be assumed.

No specific reproductive toxicity data identified, but pregnancy-specific safety data is limited for most chemicals. Precautionary minimization of exposure is recommended.

What to do: Minimize exposure during pregnancy and lactation. Consult healthcare provider regarding specific risks. Consider alternative products with lower hazard profiles.

Regulatory consensus

2 regulatory and scientific bodies have classified Potassium dichromate. The classifications differ — that's the data.

AgencyYearClassificationNotes
EPA——
IARC——

Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.

Where kids encounter potassium dichromate

  • leather tanning
  • wood staining
  • laboratory reagent
  • metal finishing

Safer alternatives

Lower-risk approaches that achieve a similar outcome to Potassium dichromate:

  • Trivalent chromium plating (Cr³⁺)
    Trade-offs: Narrower operating window. Different color (slightly bluish vs warm tone). Cannot achieve hard chrome thickness.
    Relative cost: 1.5× (process conversion)
  • HVOF thermal spray coatings
    Trade-offs: Higher equipment cost. Line-of-sight process. Different surface finish.
    Relative cost: 2-3×

Frequently asked questions

What products contain potassium dichromate?

Potassium dichromate appears in: leather tanning; wood staining; laboratory reagent.

See Potassium dichromate in the baby app

Look up products containing potassium dichromate, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.

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Sources (1)
  1. ATSDR Toxicological Profile — CAS 7778-50-9 — reference

Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →