American drinking water contaminated with chromium

As in the feature film: American drinking water contaminated with chromium: 17 million Americans drink daily contaminated water

21/12/2010

US environmentalists from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) have taken water samples in 35 American cities and examined them for harmful substances. The researchers of the non-profit organization came to the appalling conclusion that the carcinogenic metal chromium VI is contained in drinking water in 31 cities. What about the factual film „Erin Brockovich“ from the year 2000, surpasses all previously known drinking water pollution many times over.

Erin Brockovich revealed environmental scandal
In the true story, the movie „Erin Brockovich“ In the mid-1990s, a paralegal uncovered an environmental scandal in Hickley, a small California township, and obtained substantial compensation in court for those affected. The drinking water of about 600 residents was contaminated with dangerous chromium VI for years, which caused the affected people sometimes considerable health problem. Erin Brockovich's film, starring in the film by Julia Roberts, had won $ 333 million in damages for Hickley's residents in 1996 from energy giant Pacific Gas and Electric, who spent years in the village's groundwater. After PG & E told the approximately 600 people concerned, this was „more than they could ever dream of“, originally wanted to allow only $ 20 million, countered the lawyer in court: „Take out your calculator and multiply the suggested sum by 100“.

Current situation far worse than in the movie
However, the water samples now analyzed by the EEC show that the current situation is far more catastrophic than the film-made story of Erin Brockovich. In 31 out of 35 cities, the water samples were contaminated with toxic, carcinogenic chromium IV. The food expert of the EEC, Jane Houlihan, who supervised the test series, emphasized to the television station „CNN“: „We assume that at least 17 million Americans drink this contaminated water“. Even in large cities such as Chicago or Washington, the recommended limit of the World Health Organization (WHO) for hexavalent chromium has more than tripled, according to researchers from the EEC. The most severe was the toxic contamination of drinking water in the small town of Norman (Oklahoma), where nearly 13 milligrams of chromium VI were detected in one cubic meter of drinking water, which is two hundred times more than the WHO limit. Close to Norman was the drinking water load in Honolulu (Hawaii) and Riverside (California), according to the statement of the EEC.

Toxic, carcinogenic chromium VI in drinking water
„At such a high level, particularly vulnerable people such as pregnant women and children should switch to bottled water“, emphasized Jane Houlihan. Although chromium is not fundamentally dangerous but occurs regularly in water or food and is even an important substance for the body, but hexavalent chromium pose a serious health risk, said the food expert. For example, chromium VI can cause liver and kidney damage, ulcers, blindness, paralysis, leukemia and other cancers, Houlihan explained. In the US, there are no limits for chromium VI (exception California), so that the population is insufficiently protected from the now proven burdens. The hazardous material continues to be used on a massive scale in the production of plastics and dyes, in steel and pulp mills, as well as in leather tanning and chrome plating, Houlihan said on behalf of the EEC. Erin Brockovich also commented on the current study results: „This chemical has been widely used by so many companies in the US that I am not surprised by the result. This is a chemical whose use needs to be regulated.“

EPA wants to adopt timely limits for chromium VI
The US Environmental Protection Agency „Environmental Protection Agency“ (EPA) seems to have recognized the need for action in the meantime and - alarmed by the publication of the EWG test results - was prepared to introduce a cap on hexavalent chromium in tap water in a timely manner. Why this has not happened yet, when the US Department of Health came to the conclusion last October that contaminated with chromium VI drinking water on laboratory animals „clear signs of carcinogenic effects“ showed, but is not understand. In Europe, guidelines and limit values ​​have long been in place that regulate the chromium VI content of drinking water, so that, according to Greenpeace chemist Herwig Schuster, no problems with chromium (VI) are known. In the US, the affected water companies would be forced to introduce a limit value in their systems better filters to reduce the chromium content of drinking water, so the assessment of the EEC. (Fp)

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Picture: Paul Golla