Hexavalent chromium has found wide application in tanneries for the purpose of preserving leather. It is extremely toxic and is considered by the World Health Organization and the United States Environmental Protection Agency to be a human carcinogen. Ingesting large amounts of it can cause kidney and liver damage and skin contact is known to lead to skin ulcers. Blacksmith has embarked on a pilot-scale bioremediation project in Kanpur, India for the remediation of groundwater contaminated with hexavalent chromium.