The purpose of the chromium life cycle study is to identify and integrate information about chromium use and losses over the chromium life cycle. Here chromium life cycle means from mining through processing, manufacturing, end use, disposal, and reuse of chromium in its various material forms. The description of the product life cycle assessment is business and product oriented. Potential uses of such assessments are: the evaluation and modification of the production process to improve economic efficiency or to identify specific environmental impacts, the comparison of products in terms of their material or energy use or environmental impact, or as a public policy tool as when public law is used to change environmental conditions (e.g., reducing air pollution, reducing landfill, volume changing landfill or content profile).