EPA chief Lisa Jackson said last week the Agency will likely toughen drinking water standards for hexavalent chromium, after a report showed its existence in the drinking water of 31 cities across the U.S.
Hexavalent chromium, or chromium-6, is the toxic substance brought to light by the work of Erin Brockovich.
Last week, the Environmental Working Group released a study that analyzed drinking water across the country. The five cities with the highest levels of chromium-6 were Norman, Okla. (12.9 ppb); Honolulu, Hawaii (2 ppb); Riverside, Calif. (1.69 ppb); Madison, Wis. (1.58 ppb); and San Jose, Calif. (1.34 ppb).
These levels are far below the federal standard of 100 parts per billion, which was set more than two decades ago. Public health advocates say the standard is badly outdated. California has proposed a goal for safe limits for chromium 6 at 0.06 parts per billion.
In September, EPA released a draft scientific review for chromium 6. When the assessment is finalized in 2011, the agency will determine whether or not to create a new standard.
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