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Ohio EPA disputes activist’s findings of chemical in water

The carcinogen made famous by “Erin Brockovich” has been found in water supplies across the nation, including tap water in both Washington and Wood counties.

The Environmental Working Group, an activist nonprofit organization, published a report last week stating that the chemical chromium-6, also known as hexavalent chromium, was present in 75 percent of samples taken by water utilities between 2013 and 2015.

Chromium is a natural metallic element found in rocks, soil, plants and animals. The most common forms of chromium in the environment are the trivalent and hexavalent forms.

“Chromium is used to harden steel so it gets volatilized and you get fine bits of it coming from steel mills that get into your water supply though their wastewater,” said Dr. Jim Jeitler, associate professor of chemistry at Marietta College. “But it’s also a naturally-occurring element. It naturally gets into the water table through erosion and the breakdown of rocks and soil.”

When ingested through tap water, hexavalent chromium is suspected to cause stomach cancer, liver damage, reproductive problems and stunted brain development in children. But trivalent chromium is an essential element needed for glucose metabolism.

In 2010, the EWG performed a study which found high levels of the chemical’s hexavalent form in 31 of 35 major cities’ water supply in the United States. The highest levels were detected in Norman, Okla., with a population of 89,952; Honolulu, Hawaii, with a population of 661,004; and Riverside, Calif., with a population of 280,832. Their levels reached 12.9 ppb, 2.00 ppb and 1.69 ppb respectively.

Following that study, local water utilities were directed by the EPA to sample their supplies for the chemical. Those samples were taken between 2013 and 2015. The EWG compiled the EPA’s data and published its analysis last week.

“Americans deserve to know if there are potentially harmful levels of a cancer-causing chemical in their tap water,” said David Andrews, a senior scientist at EWG and co-author of the report.

But the Ohio EPA disputes the validity of the report.

“This report was issued by an alarmist advocacy group not affiliated with the federal or state EPA,” said Heidi Griesmer, deputy director of communication for the Ohio EPA, in a statement Monday. “There is no national standard or health advisory level for Chromium-6; there is (only) a national standard for total chromium, which is 100 (parts per billion).”

A part per billion is one micro gram of chromium per kilogram of water, explained Jeitler.

“So if you’re thinking in percents, a percent is a part per hundred, so an even smaller fraction is the part per billion,” he said.

The water treatment plant for the City of Marietta found an average of 0.16 parts per billion of chromium-6 from tests performed in February and August of 2015.

But Jeff Kephart, water superintendent for the city, said local residents don’t need to worry.

“We do at least 600 samples per year to check different chemicals in the water system,” he said. “Marietta’s tap water is great and meets more requirements even than bottled water. We treat it, add softeners, disinfect it, add fluoride and all of our C8 and nitrate levels are well below the limit. If anything were to change or be a concern, we would let the public know.”

At the Little Hocking Water and Sewer Association the average sample between tests in October of 2013 and April of 2014 sat at 0.01 ppb and no chromium-6 was found at the Waterford Water and Sewer Association in samples taken in April of 2015.

Likewise, the Parkersburg Utility Board found an average of 0.59 ppb between tests performed in March and September of 2014. Water in Vienna was also sampled in both May and December of last year and had an average of 0.064 ppb.

“We’re talking the minimum detectable amounts,” said Jeitler. “If we’re at less than one part per billion that’s probably naturally occurring.”

In the wake of both the 2010 EWG report and data from a 2008 long-term animal study the Department of Health and Human Service’s National Toxicology Program performed, the EPA is considering whether the drinking water standard for total chromium needs to be revised.

“The EPA is conducting a national scientific review of this chemical, which Ohio is participating in,” said Griesmer. “We don’t have the resources to perform the review on our own but we do participate in and comment on the proposals set by the EPA. Then, if the EPA sets a (new) national health standard for drinking water, Ohio will move quickly to adopt this standard to protect Ohioans.”

 

At a glance

Chromium requirements

¯ Federal – 100 parts per billion.

**Recommended by the Environmental Working Group – 0.02 parts per billion

City of Marietta Chromium-6 testing summary

¯ Samples: Four, taken in February and August 2015.

¯ Average : 0.16 ppb.

¯ Range: 0.14-0.18 ppb.

Little Hocking Water & Sewer Association Chromium-6 testing summary

¯ Samples: Four, taken in October 2013 and April 2014.

¯ Average : 0.01 ppb.

¯ Range: 0.0-0.039 ppb.

Waterford Water/Sewer Association Chromium-6 testing summary

¯ Samples: Two, taken in April 2015.

¯ Average : 0.0 ppb.

¯ Range: 0.0-0.0 ppb.

Parkersburg Utility Board Chromium-6 testing summary:

¯ Samples: Four, taken in March and September 2014.

¯ Average : 0.59 ppb.

¯ Range: 0.51-0.71 ppb.

Vienna Chromium-6 testing summary

¯ Samples: 12, May and December 2015.

¯ Average : 0.064 ppb.

¯ Range: 0.0-0.18 ppb.

Source: Environmental Working Group.

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