It was demonstrated that two salts of chromium, namely potassium dichromate and calcium chromate, induced alterations in the chromosomes of Vicia faba root tip cells. These alterations consisted of subchromatid types (subchromatid bridges), chromatid types (single bridges with and without single fragments, and single fragments), chromosome types (double bridges with and without double fragments, and double fragments), chromosomes with inactivated centromere, isochromosomes and micronuclei.
These chromium salts did not produce a delay on the showing up of aberrations and they were capable of inducing lesions on the chromosomes in all the phases of the cell cycle, that meant they had an S-independent effect. It was also noted that they produced an enlargement of the cell cycle.
The effects observed could be due to the direct binding of chromium to nucleic acids and nucleoproteins or to the action of the enzymes liberated from lysosomes resulting from the damage produced by chromium.
On a concentration basis potassium dichromate affected the chromosomes as efficiently as calcium chromate in plant cells.