Charlottesville, VA — National Toxicology Program scientists have concluded at the end of a two-year animal study that the compound hexavalent chromium is carcinogenic in drinking water, Environmental Health News reported on February 20.
Hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium 6 or chromium VI, was brought to the general public’s attention by the movie “Erin Brockovich,” which chronicles a lawyer’s crusade on behalf of citizens of a small California town battling a cover-up involving chromium 6-contaminated water. It has been known for about 20 years that hexavalent chromium is carcinogenic when inhaled.
In the National Toxicology Program study, scientists found that mice and rats contracted malignant tumors in their small intestines and mouths when they drank water containing several different doses of hexavalent chromium, Environmental Health News reported.
California and US Environmental Protection Agency officials now are reevaluating what concentration is safe in water supplies, the article said. California is expected to announce within a few weeks a proposal to set a new health guideline for hexavalent chromium in drinking water.
Roberto Gwiazda, an assistant researcher at University of California at Santa Cruz’s Department of Environmental Toxicology, called the new study a “milestone,” saying it “settles the issue.” However, Gwiazda said in the article that using the new research “to support a drinking water standard is a different matter” because extrapolating it to humans remains controversial.
To read the full report, click here.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
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