Erin Brockovich chemical in US drinking water read more at here www.spinonews.com/index.php/item/937-erin-brockovich-chemical-in-us-drinking-water

There is scientific uncertainty regarding safe levels of this chemical in drinking water and possible long-term consequences of ingestion.

But this new analysis from the Environmental Working Group, an independent advocacy group, examines evidence from water systems throughout the nation and concludes that the tap water of 218 million Americans contains levels of chromium-6 that the group considers dangerous.

Dangerous levels of chromium-6 are contaminating tap water consumed by hundreds of millions of Americans, according to a national report released. That chemical was featured in the popular 2000 movie "Erin Brockovich," starring Julia Roberts as the titular activist.

Chromium-6 is the carcinogenic chemical the US Environmental Protection Agency has never set a specific limit in drinking water.

Chromium is a naturally occurring element found in rocks, animals, plants, soil and volcanic dust and gases, according to the National Toxicology Program.

It comes in several forms, including what is commonly called chromium-3, an essential nutrient for the body. Chromium-6, which is rare in nature, is produced by industrial processes. Chromium-6 is used in electroplating, stainless steel production, leather tanning, textile manufacturing and wood preservation

According to the National Toxicology Program. Chromium-6 is also found in the ash from coal-burning power plants and used to lower the temperature of water in the cooling towers of power plants.

Scientific reports have indicated that breathing in airborne chromium-6 particles can cause lung cancer. Based on these reports, the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration sets strict limits for airborne chromium-6 in the workplace.

Specifically, the new report indicates that levels of chromium-6 are at or above 0.03 parts per billion in 75% of the samples tested by local water utilities on behalf of the EPA between 2013 and 2015.

Seven million Americans receive tap water with levels of chromium-6 that are higher than the legal limit established by California 10 ppb which is the only state to enforce a maximum contaminant level.

Americans are exposed to dozens if not hundreds of other cancer-causing chemicals every day in their drinking water, their consumer products and their foods.

And what the best science of the last decade tells us is that these chemicals acting in combination with each other can be more dangerous than exposure to a single chemical.

Oklahoma, Arizona and California had the highest average statewide levels and the greatest shares of detections above California's public health goal of 0.02 ppb, the report found. Of major cities, Phoenix had the highest average level at almost 400 times this health goal. St. Louis County, Houston, Los Angeles and Suffolk County, New York, also had relatively high levels.

According to the group, the report indicated that only one public water system had total chromium exceeding EPA standards, but 2% of the water systems 1,370 counties had chromium-6 levels exceeding California's standard of 10 ppb.