31 U.S. Cities have Contaminated Tap Water

By Jeany Miller

Many people across America use their taps every day without reservation. It is almost second nature to reach for a glass, fill it with water from the faucet and enjoy a cold drink. However, new studies reveal some tap water may contain a dangerous and potentially lethal chemical. The Environmental Working Group released a report in December, 2010 that stated 31 U.S. cities have contaminated drinking water. The culprit in this instance is hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6.

Chromium-6 and the Water Supply

Hexavalent chromium garnered national attention with the 2000 Hollywood movie release of Erin Brockovich. That film documented the battle of Hinkley, California to have safe drinking water, as supplies there were also contaminated by hexavalent chromium. Now, the toxin is officially labeled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a carcinogen to humans if it is inhaled. The EPA is considering classifying it as "likely to be carcinogenic to humans" if ingested. Officials with the agency indicate public water utilities are required to test water supplies for total chromium levels, but not explicitly for chromium-6. This is a natural byproduct of total chromium. Among the top cities with known contamination by chromium-6 are Norman, Oklahoma, Honolulu, Hawaii and Riverside, California.

"I was expecting to find hexavalent chromium in some of the cities we checked, but I didn't expect it to be so widespread," explains Rebecca Sutton, a senior scientist with the Environmental Working Group and lead author of the study. Sutton indicates a well-documented association exists between exposure to chromium-6 and an increased risk of stomach cancer in humans. Evidence also suggests a grave risk of gastrointestinal tumors in rats and mice exposed to the toxin.

Chromium-6, however, has been known for decades to cause cancer. Industries that release the pollutant into the air have simply argued the chemical is a "selective" carcinogen. This is to say that chromium-6 causes cancer only when inhaled, not ingested. Professionals argue otherwise. In 2005, the National Toxicology Program released a study of chromium-6 that irrevocably proved it causes cancer in lab tests when ingested in drinking water. Major industries have created yet another argument, however, to absolve themselves from potential lawsuits. Their most recent claim is that chromium-6 may cause cancer when ingested, but there is a threshold below which it is perfectly safe. Many health organizations, including those in California, have rejected the argument because it is not supported by scientific evidence.

Today's New Battle

In addition to chromium-6, some reports allege that 24 major U.S. cities also have an array of pharmaceuticals in their drinking water supplies. These include antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones. While the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are minute, drugs have been detected in areas from Southern California to Northern New Jersey, from Detroit to Louisville. It is believed these drugs enter the water simply because people ingest them. Drug particles pass through the body and into the toilet, after which wastewater treatment plants cleanse the dirty water before discharging it into reservoirs, rivers or lakes. The water is often cleansed again at drinking water treatment plants before cycling to customers. Most treatments, however, do not remove all drug residues. In light of such information, many consumers feel bottled water is the better option over tap. Unfortunately, this also does not guarantee protection. Bottled water is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. According to Jon Coifman, spokesman for the Natural Resources Defense Council, it "is not tested as thoroughly or as frequently" as tap water, which is regulated by the EPA. "It's not that bottled water is going to kill you, but there's also no reason to believe it's better." Sutton suggests that families invest in a quality water filter and purify their tap water at home. "Getting the water filter is a great way to protect yourself and your family," suggests Sutton. "It's a step you can take yourself; you don't have to wait for government action."

Sources: http://pagingdrgupta.blogs.cnn.com/2010/12/20/carcinogen-found-in-31-of-35-cities-water-supply/?iref=NS1

http://www.healthynewage.com/water-contamination.htm

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/painter/2007-08-26-painter-yourhealth_N.htm

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/gsolomon/california_finally_takes_leade.html