"Our municipal water supplies are in danger all over the U.S."
- Erin Brockovich
There was mention of
hexavalent chromium on this forum in May, 2007, possibly not since then.
More recently, the
Environmental Working Group will be releasing a report Monday of their findings, having studied the water of 35 different US communities, large and small, and having found high levels of hexavalent chromium in 31 of them. [1] Among those with high levels were Bethesda, MD and Washington, D.C. Norman, OK had the highest levels of this select group, returning 0.19 parts per billion.
There are no Federal standards for allowable levels of hexavalent chromium in water. There are for total chromium. This would be the measure of trivalent and hexavalent chromium combined. Trivalent chromium is used by the body to metabolize glucose; hexavalent chromium is known to be deadly if inhaled, and ingested has caused cancer in laboratory animals. California has proposed limiting hexavalent chromium levels in water to 0.06 parts per billion. Their original goal may have been lower, at 0.01ppb.
The American Chemistry Council, representing the chemical industry, says the proposed California standards are unrealistic, citing some locals where naturally occurring hexavalent chromium is higher than 0.06 ppb. Many municipal water utilities are also opposed to such standards, as the necessary filtering would raise their costs. The EPA is looking into this matter, also considering this new report, although its final decision is likely to be influenced as much by politics and industry as science.
Cancer death rates are said to have moderated and declined recently. This possibly through early diagnosis and better treatment. But it should also be seen that if a disease always with man, its prevalence today is intimately tied to modern society. Rates of cancer once, not that long ago, were appreciably lower. [2] There are many well known contributing factors present in our environment, chemicals in our land, air and water, the food we eat, which increase the odds of contracting this disease.
An illness which is often defined by and caused by ones environment.
One of the better known examples is the 2000 film 'Erin Brockovich,' which presented the real life drama of the citizens of Hinkley, CA with hexavalent chromium. Average levels in Hinkley tested at 1.10ppb, as high as 3.09ppb. The PG&E Topock Compressor Station, the source of this hexavalent chromium, having used it for cooling purposes, averaged 7.8ppm, and peaked at 31.8ppb. [3] Cancers in the Hinkley area in result were a little over twice the amount of other areas of San Bernardino County. The problems in Hinkley with hexavalent chromium are continuing, with this underground pollution having recently spread in area and to new levels.
Hexavalent chromium has a number of industrial uses, such as stainless steel, wood preservation, textile dyes, anti-corrosion, leather tanning. Workers of many occupations are exposed to hexavalent chromium, with those of some occupations with problematic exposure, such as those handling chromate-containing products, or arc welding stainless steel. Even wearing leather shoes so treated can exacerbate contact dermatitis. [3]
Known as a powerful human carcinogen if inhaled, hexavalent chromium will not only affect the lungs, but capillaries of kidneys and intestines.
Hexavalent chromium is but one of a variety of known carcinogens often present in high concentrations in the drinking water of Americans.
1) 'Probable carcinogen hexavalent chromium found in drinking water of 31 U.S. cities,' The Washington Post
Probable carcinogen hexavalent chromium found in drinking water of 31 U.S. cities
2) 'Death Rates by Cause of Death, 1900–2005,' infoplease
Death Rates by Cause of Death, 1900
3) 'Hexavalent chromium,' Wikipedia
Hexavalent chromium - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Thanks for posting this
