EPA Administrator Jackson met with 10 U.S. senators on Hexavalent Chromium (Chromium-6)
Last week, EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson met with Senators Richard Durbin (IL), Mark Kirk (IL), Debbie Stabenow (MI), Bob Casey (PA), Ben Nelson (NE), Bill Nelson (FL), Daniel Akaka (HI), Dianne Feinstein (CA), Jeff Bingaman (NM), and Jeff Merkley (OR) to brief them on the issue of chromium-6 in drinking water as it relates to this week’s Environmental Working Group (EWG) http://static.ewg.org/reports/2010/chrome6/html/home.html report.
According to lab tests commissioned by the Environmental Working Group, hexavalent chromium, the carcinogenic “Erin Brockovich chemical” Laboratory tests commissioned by Environmental Working Group (EWG) have shown this chemical is present in tap water in 31 of 35 American cities reviewed. The highest levels were in Norman, Okla.; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Riverside, Calif. In all, water samples from 25 cities contained the toxic metal at concentrations above the safe maximum recently proposed by California regulators.
The following is a statement from Administrator Lisa P. Jackson regarding that meeting:
“… I briefed members of the Senate on chromium-6 in drinking water supplies as it relates to the recent Environmental Working Group report. EPA has already been working to review and incorporate the ground-breaking science referenced in this report. However, as a mother and the head of EPA, I am still concerned about the prevalence of chromium-6 in our drinking water. Today, I am announcing a series of actions that the EPA will take over the coming days to address chromium-6 in our drinking water.”
Administrator Jackson described EPA’s current hexavalent chromium risk assessment, which is a review EPA immediately started in response to new science in 2008 showing a link between hexavalent chromium ingestion and cancer. This risk assessment – which would be the first step to updating the drinking water regulations – will be finalized after an independent scientific peer review in 2011. Administrator Jackson told the senators that based on the draft risk assessment, EPA will likely revise drinking water regulations to account for this new science. These revisions would only take place after an independent science panel has verified the underlying science.
Here is a summary of Administrator Jackson’s points and commitments at this meeting:
1) While provocative, the EWG report is a self-described “snapshot” in time and does not provide a full, long-term picture of the prevalence of chromium-6 in our drinking water. EPA will work with state and local officials to better determine how wide-spread and prevalent this contaminant is.
2) Meanwhile, EPA will issue guidance to all water systems on how to test for and sample drinking water specifically for chromium-6. This guidance will provide EPA-approved methods and other technical information.
3) EPA will also offer technical expertise and assistance to the communities cited in the EWG study with the highest levels of chromium. This assistance will include providing technical experts to work with water system operators and engineers to ensure the latest testing and monitoring is being utilized.
4) Once EPA’s chromium-6 risk assessment is finalized, EPA will work quickly to determine if new standards need to be set. Based on the current draft assessment, which has yet to undergo scientific peer review, it is likely that EPA will tighten drinking water standards to address the health risks posed by chromium-6.
More information on hexavalent chromium:
http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/chromium.cfm
Note: The EPA news desk and the EWG contributed to this report.
Compiled by JeanMarie Calvillo, Ph.D., Safetec Regulatory Specialist
