Risky lesson?

In view of the concern over the presence of chromium 6 (“the second most dangerous carcinogen,” according to your report, June 26) in a waste site at Haulbowline in Cork harbour, should it also be of concern that chromium 6 has been used for many years in two mandatory experiments in Leaving Certificate chemistry and at least one experiment in Leaving Certificate biology?

Many students will be aware of the need to know the colour change from orange (red) to green (ie, chromium 6 to chromium 3) during its oxidising reaction — a detail regularly asked in the Leaving Certificate chemistry exam.

Harry Ryan