New Report has California Residents Concerned over Hexavalent Chromium in Water Supplies

A new report issued by the Environmental Working Group made national headlines last month. The report found what the group believes to be potentially dangerous levels of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in the tap water of 218 million Americans.

The report indicates that hexavalent chromium was present at or above 0.03 parts per billion (ppb) in 75% of water samples taken between 2013 and 2015 by local water utilities. It was also discovered that seven million Americans have tap water with levels over California’s legal limit of 10 ppb. California’s legal limit was established in 2014 when the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced regulations establishing the first-in-the-nation drinking water standard for hexavalent chromium.

The dangers of exposure to hexavalent chromium gained national attention after the release of the movie, Erin Brockovich, in 2000. Hexavalent chromium is a toxic form of the element chromium. Man-made hexavalent chromium compounds have been widely used in many different industries. Industrial uses include chromate pigments in dyes, paints, inks and plastics; chromates added as anticorrosive agents to paints, primers and other surface coatings; and chromic acid electroplated onto metal parts to provide a decorative or protective coating. Hexavalent chromium can also be formed when performing hot work, such as welding on stainless steel or melting chromium metal.

“Nationally, the U.S. Environmental Agency has never set a specific limit for hexavalent chromium in drinking water,” said Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Huntington Beach facility.  “This new report found that California, Arizona and Oklahoma had the highest average statewide levels and the greatest shares of detections above the public health goal of 0.02 ppb set by scientists at the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment. Residents and businesses concerned about hexavalent chromium exposure risks can turn to LA Testing for comprehensive analytical services and all of the sampling supplies needed to submit samples.” 

To learn more about hexavalent chromium testing or other water, air quality, environmental, occupational, health and safety issues, please visit www.LATesting.com, email  info@LATesting.com  or call (800) 755-1794. 

About LA Testing

LA Testing is California’s leading laboratory for air quality testing of asbestos, mold, lead, VOCs, formaldehyde, soot, char, ash and smoke damage, particulates and other chemicals. In addition, LA Testing offers a full range of air sampling and investigative equipment to professionals and the general public. LA Testing maintains an extensive list of accreditations including: AIHA LAP LLC., AIHA ELLAP, AIHA EMLAP and AIHA IHLAP, NVLAP, CDC ELITE, State of California, State of Hawaii Department of Health and other states. LA Testing, along with the EMSL Analytical, Inc. network, has multiple laboratories throughout California including Huntington Beach, San Diego, San Leandro and South Pasadena.
 

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