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Consumer Factsheet on: CHROMIUM
List of
Contaminants
As part of the Drinking Water and Health pages, this fact
sheet is part of a larger publication: National Primary Drinking Water
Regulations
This is a factsheet about a chemical that may be found in some public or
private drinking water supplies. It may cause health problems if found in
amounts greater than the health standard set by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
What is Chromium and how is it used?
Chromium is a metal found in natural deposits as ores containing other
elements. The greatest use of chromium is in metal alloys such as stainless
steel; protective coatings on metal; magnetic tapes; and pigments for paints,
cement, paper, rubber, composition floor covering and other materials. Its
soluble forms are used in wood preservatives.
Why is Chromium being regulated?
In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA
to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water which do or may cause
health problems. These non-enforceable levels, based solely on possible health
risks and exposure, are called Maximum Contaminant Level Goals.
The MCLG for chromium has been set at 0.1 parts per million (ppm) because
EPA believes this level of protection would not cause any of the potential
health problems described below.
Based on this MCLG, EPA has set an enforceable standard called a Maximum
Contaminant Level (MCL). MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as possible,
considering the ability of public water systems to detect and remove
contaminants using suitable treatment technologies.
The MCL has also been set at 0.1 ppm because EPA believes, given present
technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can
reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking
water.
These drinking water standards and the regulations for ensuring these
standards are met, are called National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. All
public water supplies must abide by these regulations.
What are the health effects?
Short-term: EPA has found chromium to potentially cause the following health
effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively
short periods of time: skin irritation or ulceration.
Long-term: Chromium has the potential to cause the following effects from a
lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: damage to liver, kidney circulatory
and nerve tissues; skin irritation.
How much Chromium is produced and released to the Environment?
Production of the most water soluble forms of chromium, the chromate and
dichromates, was in the range of 250,000 tons in 1992. Though chromium occurs
in nature mostly as chrome iron ore and is widely found in soils and plants, it
is rare in natural waters. The two largest sources of chromium emission in the
atmosphere are from the chemical manufacturing industry and combustion of
natural gas, oil, and coal.
From 1987 to 1993, according to the Toxics Release Inventory, chromium
compound releases to land and water totaled nearly 200 million pounds. These
releases were primarily from industrial organic chemical industries. The
largest releases occurred in Texas and North Carolina. The largest direct
releases to water occurred in Georgia and Pennsylvania.
What happens to Chromium when it is released to the environment?
When released to land, chromium compounds bind to soil are not likely to
migrate to ground water. They are very persistent in water as sediments. There
is a high potential for accumulation of chromium in aquatic life.
How will Chromium be detected in and removed from my drinking water?
The regulation for chromium became effective in 1992. Between 1993 and 1995,
EPA required your water supplier to collect water samples once and analyze them
to find out if chromium is present above 0.1 ppm. If it is present above this
level, the system must continue to monitor this contaminant every 3 months.
If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above the MCL, your water
supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of chromium so that it is
consistently below that level. The following treatment methods have been
approved by EPA for removing chromium: Coagulation/Filtration, Ion Exchange,
Reverse Osmosis, Lime Softening.
How will I know if Chromium is in my drinking water?
If the levels of chromium exceed the MCL, the system must notify the public
via newspapers, radio, TV and other means. Additional actions, such as
providing alternative drinking water supplies, may be required to prevent
serious risks to public health.
This is a factsheet about a chemical that may be found in some public or
private drinking water supplies. It may cause health problems if found in
amounts greater than the health standard set by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
Drinking Water Standards:
MCLG: 0.1 ppm
MCL: 0.1 ppm
Chromium Releases to Water and Land, 1987 to 1993 (in pounds):
|
Water |
Land |
TOTALS |
2,876,055 |
196,880,624 |
|
Top Ten States *
| |
TX |
102,079 |
64,301,920
|
NC |
43,522 |
55,217,044
|
IN |
85,570 |
15,955,895
|
OH |
51,830 |
8,319,600
|
UT |
1,750 |
5,817,015
|
AR |
2,300 |
3,532,000
|
KY |
255 |
2,491,519
|
PA |
110,149 |
2,337,905
|
GA |
679,721 |
1,404,698
|
ID |
91,750 |
1,404,870
|
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Major Industries*
| |
Indust. organics |
3,272 |
120,707,814
|
Steelworks, Blast furn. |
609,174 |
16,638,880
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Electrometallurgy |
33,269 |
10,796,928
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Copper smelting, refining |
1,750 |
5,817,015
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Nonferrous smelting |
2,300 |
3,532,000
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Inorganic pigments |
88,721 |
1,375,700
|
Pulp mills |
985,800 |
224,198
|
* Water/Land totals only include facilities with releases greater than a
certain amount - usually 1000 to 10,000 lbs.
Learn more about your drinking water!
EPA strongly encourages people to learn more about their drinking water, and
to support local efforts to protect and upgrade the supply of safe drinking
water. Your water bill or telephone books government listings are a good
starting point.
Your local water supplier can give you a list of the chemicals they test for
in your water, as well as how your water is treated.
Your state Department of Health/Environment is also a valuable source of
information.
For help in locating these agencies or for information on drinking water in
general, call: EPAs Safe Drinking Water Hotline: (800) 426-4791.
For additional information on the uses and releases of chemicals in your
state, contact the: Community Right-to-Know Hotline: (800) 424-9346.
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