Chromium-6, also known as Hexavalent Chromium, is a toxic metal produced by industrial processes and manufacturing activities such as discharges from steel and pulp mills.
For generations it has been known that inhaling chromium-6 while working at these facilities leads to lung cancer and now this deadly compound is making it’s way into your water supply.
Most people are unfamiliar with the devastating effects of Chromium-6, but does the movie “Erin Brokovich” ring any bells? This carcinogen is more than just a storyline in the a movie… It is a recurring water crisis still prevalent to this day.
If you are unfamiliar with the movie, Erin Brockovich is a real woman that brought about a real change in the community of Hinkley, California.
In 1996 she ended a lawsuit with the utility company Pacific Gas & Electric that cost them more than $330 million in damages. The case against them was that they were polluting the Hinkley water supply with Chromium-6, causing ongoing chronic health problems to the local population.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) scientists are increasingly concerned about chromium-6 and Toxicity Program scientists report that their two-year animal study “clearly demonstrates” that Chromium-6 is carcinogenic in drinking water.
Mice and rats acted as the test subjects, and they all contracted malignant tumors in their small intestines and mouths when they drank water containing Chromium-6.
Even with all this evidence and serious concern the EPA has not set a legal limit for Chromium-6 in tap water nationally and does not require water utilities to test for it.
At least 74 million Americans in 42 states are drinking Chromium-6 polluted tap water.
Norman-Oklahoma, Honolulu- Hawaii, and Riverside-California are currently the top 3 cities with the highest levels of Chromium-6 in their water supply that exceed the safety maximum recently proposed by California regulators.
The map above depicts Chromium-6 water contamination across the US. The darker hues of red represent the severity of the epidemic.
However, it gets worse…
If you think that drinking bottled water protects you from this poison, well guess again.
Up to, 40% of bottled water is actually regular tap water. The EPA has regulations that apply to public water supply, but they do NOT apply to the bottled water industry.
So in the end, your bottled water might be even more dangerous than your tap water.
BUT, there is a way around this problem….
Did you know that there is a safer version of Chromium-6?
It’s called Chromium-3 and it’s actually a natural compound commonly found in many fruits, vegetables, meats and grains. This form of Chromium is often added into vitamin supplements.
REFERENCES
- Adya Clarity 30-Day Human Clinical Trial Report. [link]
- Adya Clarity’s EPA Certified Lab Tests Reports on Water. [link]
- What is Chromium-6?. Published by About.com Environmental Issues. [link]
- Chromium in Drinking Water Causes Cancer. Published by Marla Cone on Scientific American [link]
- Hexavalent Chromium is Carcinogenic to F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice after Chronic Oral Exposure. Published By National Center for Biotechnology Information. [link]
- Cancer-Causing Chromium-6 Pollution in U.S. Tap Water. Published by The Environmental Working Group (EPA). [link]
