Where does chromium come from?
Tanning turns animal skins into stable, usable leather. In conventional chrome tanning, salts containing trivalent chromium, written as Cr(III), interact with the collagen in the skin. This helps give the finished leather its strength, softness and flexibility.
Hexavalent chromium, or Cr(VI), is a different chemical form. It is not intentionally added during normal chrome tanning. It can, however, form if Cr(III) oxidises during production or later in the leather’s life. Heat, light, storage conditions and aspects of the chemical formulation can all play a part. That is why a declaration about the tanning process alone cannot establish the Cr(VI) content of the finished leather.
Why is Cr(VI) the focus of testing?
Cr(VI) can sensitise the skin and cause allergic contact dermatitis. That matters in a protective glove, where leather may sit against the wearer’s hands for prolonged periods. Cr(VI) compounds are also associated with more serious health effects through other exposure routes, particularly inhalation in occupational settings. The relevant question for leather gloves is whether the finished material meets the applicable chemical safety requirements for skin contact.
For leather articles intended for direct and prolonged or repeated skin contact, the UK and EU REACH restriction is less than 3 mg of Cr(VI) per kg of dry leather. EN ISO 21420, the general standard for protective gloves, also covers requirements for material innocuousness. Requirements in other markets should be assessed for the product and where it is sold.
What does a chromium test actually tell you?
ISO 17075-1 and ISO 17075-2 are recognised methods for determining Cr(VI) extracted from leather under defined conditions. The result is expressed in milligrams per kilogram of leather. A report stating that Cr(VI) was not detected means that it was not detected at the stated detection or quantification limit of that particular test. It does not prove that the leather contains no chromium of any kind.
That distinction is easy to miss. A piece of chrome-tanned leather may contain Cr(III) and still return a Cr(VI) result below the applicable limit. Conversely, a claim that no chrome was used in tanning describes a process; it is not a substitute for checking the finished leather where Cr(VI) evidence is required.
Four claims that mean different things
- Chrome-free tanning means chromium salts were not used in the tanning process. The supplier should be able to identify the alternative method.
- Chromium-free leather is a broader claim about the material itself. It needs evidence that addresses total chromium; a Cr(VI) test alone cannot substantiate it.
- Cr(VI) compliant means the tested leather meets the applicable Cr(VI) limit, subject to the scope and conditions of the test.
- Cr(VI) not detected means the test found no measurable Cr(VI) at its stated limit. Check the laboratory report to understand exactly what was tested and what that limit was.
The key checks for safety professionals are whether chromium(VI) was specifically tested, which test method was used, and whether the reported result meets the applicable limit.
How Tilsatec controls leather used in its gloves
At Tilsatec, chemical safety is part of the material selection and product compliance process. Our technical files hold independent Cr(VI) test reports, material details and relevant supplier declarations. We check the evidence behind supplier claims and reassess it when the leather, supplier or manufacturing process changes. If leather exceeds the applicable Cr(VI) requirement, it is rejected for that glove construction.
Those controls are particularly relevant to PUREHIDE™ our new premium goatskin glove range. PUREHIDE™ combines soft, supple leather with a carefully controlled tanning process and design details made for working hands, including a gunn cut, extended roll palm edging and a tapered, shirred wrist. Across the range, there are options for cut, impact and cold-weather protection.
The point is straightforward: comfort and durability matter, and so does being precise about the chemistry behind the leather. When a product claim refers to chromium, ask whether it means the tanning method, total chromium or specifically Cr(VI) in the finished leather. That one question makes it much easier to compare gloves with confidence.
View the PUREHIDE™ range to discover high-performance leather gloves built to deliver robust protection but in a compliant, safe solution for your organisation.