Chromium 6 Well Water Contamination (hexavalent
chromium)
The hit film "Erin Brockovich"
has increased awareness of the previously unknown cancer causing
pollutant chromium 6 to become a household name. The
truth-based movie tale relates the story of a class-action
lawsuit that forced San Francisco-based power giant Pacific
Gas & Electric Co. to settle with residents of Hinkley, CA,
for a record $333 million. Before there was "Erin
Brockovich," the basis for the movie "A Civil Action" was
taking place in Woburn, Massachusetts.
The state of California is officially
investigating chromium 6, which is a known carcinogen when inhaled and can
cause other health problems. Initial water tests have revealed more
widespread contamination in California than had been suspected.
However, there is no reason to assume the problem is worse in the Golden
State than in other areas where aerospace, shipbuilding, chemical
manufacture and other industries have been active.
From 1993 through 1997, California was not even
among the top 10 states in terms of chromium emissions - Pennsylvania and
Georgia headed the list for releases into water. The
American Water Works Research Foundation in Denver has funded a study
this year of national chromium 6 prevalence, and it may be just a matter of
time before other communities uncover their own chromium 6 legacies.