Manxmodder posted
Chrome poisoning from a snap-on ratchet with peeling chrome plating doesn't sound right to me.
Quite right. There are no known hazards associated with metallic chromium. Think of how many times a week you cook in stainless steel vessels and stick stainless forks and spoons into your mouth without ill effect. The commonest form of stainless used in food grade utensils contains 18% chromium. Millions of people handle millions of chrome plated objects every day without any toxic hazard.
Many
salts of chromium are indeed toxic and known carcinogens, which is why the electro / chemical process used in chromium plating is surrounded by legislation. The machinery has to be ventilated and the atmosphere monitored and the water used in the rinsing process has to be rendered innocuous before discharge to the drains.
So in short, metallic chromium is to all intents and purposes harmless, but the processes used in obtaining it are not.
Andrew posted
Absolute rubbish compared to what one got years ago
In the high and far off days when we had proper industry, I was involved in the technology of plating plumbers brassware. Manufacturers worked to British Standard and checked the adhesion of the plated layers but all those factories went bust because ... well you know the story. I doubt Lif Ting Ni Kel is as pernicketty.
The quality gear is now produced by Germany and Italy; you won't go wrong with stuff by Grohe ferinstance.
Eug
(removed double post -- vtsteam)