Sodium dichromate is an inorganic compound, containing hexavalent chromium. It is highly corrosive and is a strong oxidizing agent. Sodium dichromate is mainly used to produce other chromium compounds but is also used in drilling muds, in metal treatments, in wood preservatives, in the production of dyes and organic chemicals and as a corrosion inhibitor. Sodium dichromate primarily affects the respiratory system causing ulcerations, shortness of breath, bronchitis, pneumonia, and asthma but can also affect the gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys and immune system. This substance is a known human carcinogen and is associated with an increased risk of developing lung cancer and cancer of the sinonasal cavity.