A national report released just this week found that dangerous levels of chromium-6 have contaminated tap water all over the United States. While the EPA has never set a specific limit for chromium-6 in drinking water, there is scientific uncertainty regarding safe levels of this chemical in our drinking water and possible long-term consequences of ingestion.
The analysis from the Environmental Working Group, an independent advocacy group, looked at evidence from water systems across the country and concluded the tap water of 218 million Americans contained levels of chromium-6 they consider dangerous; levels that are at or above 0.03 parts per billion (which they found in 75% of the samples tested by local water utilities on behalf of the EPA between 2013 and 2015).
This means that seven million Americans receive tap water with levels of chromium-6 that are higher than the legal limit established by California, 10 ppb, the only state to enforce a maximum allowable level.
From the article:
“Americans are exposed to dozens if not hundreds of other cancer-causing chemicals every day in their drinking water, their consumer products and their foods,” Walker said. “And what the best science of the last decade tells us is that these chemicals acting in combination with each other can be more dangerous than exposure to a single chemical.”
Chromium is found in several forms; chromium-3 is an essential nutrient for the body and Chromium-6 is produced by industrial processes. The National Toxicology Program says Chromium-6 is used in electroplating, stainless steel production, leather tanning, textile manufacturing and wood preservation. It’s also found in the ash from coal-burning power plants and used to lower the temperature of water in the cooling towers of power plants.
Yum. Sounds tasty.
More from the article:
“In 2008, a two-year study by the National Toxicology Program found that drinking water with chromium-6 caused cancer in laboratory rats and mice. “In terms of cancer studies, that is the gold standard of animal studies,” said David Andrews, co-author of the report and a senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group. He said a separate scientific study (PDF) found a higher incidence of stomach cancers in workers routinely exposed to chromium-6.
(Also, breathing in airborne chromium-6 particles can cause lung cancer).
Based on that report and other research, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment set a public health goal of 0.02 (the current limit is 10 ppb) parts per billion in tap water because scientists believe this level would pose only “negligible risk over a lifetime of consumption.” But Andrews still sees a problem because exposure to very low levels of the chemical, at crucial periods during the development of a fetus, infant or child could cause far more serious issues than it would for say, an adult.
Currently, Oklahoma, Arizona, and California have the highest average statewide levels with Phoenix having the highest average level at almost 400 times California’s stated health goal. St. Louis County, Houston, Los Angeles and Suffolk County, New York, also have relatively high levels.
Thankfully, the EPA is working on a health assessment of chromium-6 that will be released to the public for comment in 2017. That’s right, they aren’t doing anything.
Erin Brockovich blames this water crisis on corruption, complacency and utter incompetence saying, “Whether it is chromium-6, PFOA or lead, the public is looking down the barrel of a serious water crisis across the country that has been building for decades.”
Source: CNN
