Chromium in Drinking Water
EPA Limit (MCL)
100 ug/L
EPA Goal (MCLG)
100 ug/L
Health Guideline
0.02 ug/L
Source: EWG (Chromium-6)
Status
Regulated
Health Effects
Chromium-6 (hexavalent chromium), the form made famous by the Erin Brockovich case, is linked to stomach cancer when ingested. The EPA limit covers total chromium, not specifically the more dangerous chromium-6 form.
How Chromium Gets Into Water
Enters water from natural deposits, industrial chrome plating, steel mills, and leather tanning facilities. Chromium-6 can also come from coal ash and erosion of natural deposits.
How to Remove Chromium
Reverse osmosis and strong-base anion exchange resins can remove chromium-6. Activated carbon alone is not effective for chromium removal.
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