What is Hexavalent Chromium?
Is it in my drinking water?
Hexavalent chromium, also called “chromium 6” or even the “Erin Brockovitch Chemical” from the movie of the same name, is a contaminant recently found in the water systems of most major cities. Believed to be cancer-causing, hexavalent chromium occurs naturally but is also a byproduct of chrome plating and the manufacturing of plastic and dyes, so any area where these processes have occurred in the past may be a candidate for groundwater contamination in the future.
The effects of hexavalent chromium are up for some debate, since (like many cancer studies) correlation does not equal causation, so the incidence of cancer may be a coincidence or the result of other factors. Previous studies argued that the methods of ingestion were not shown to cause cancer in themselves, or the amounts needed were higher than overall lifetime exposure. There are also some arguments relative to whether contamination in groundwater is due to natural effects or industrial water table contamination, which may put the onus of cleanup on the local water company instead of a nearby industry. Also, because it may be unclear when and where chromium was released, assigning blame or responsibility might also be an issue.
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Notes and Special Information
Special note: This site is for informational purposes only and tries to see all sides of a controversial chemical compound which has been debated in the media for several years.