Carcinogens in West Virginia Water

Chromium six can cause many side effects if ingested in larger than the legally-mandated quantites.
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Carcinogens, substances that can cause cancer to develop in living tissue, are found in many different places. Some are found in cigarettes, as most people know, while small amounts of them develop naturally in our bodies. For the interest of public safety, such substances should be limited as much as possible, which makes the discovery of carcinogens in West Virginia’s water supply shocking. A report from the Environmental Work Group found that over 218 million Americans, including West Virginians, are exposed to the carcinogen chromium six on a daily basis through tap water. 

    While the levels that were reported (one part per billion) are well below the standard set by the federal government, it nonetheless caused a great deal of alarm among West Virginia citizens. Patrick Murphy, Director of Environmental Engineering for the West Virginia Bureau of Public Health, said in the WVVA article “We follow EPA standards on all contaminants, including chromium. It sets those standards at 100 pbb, so that’s what we follow. “

    Chromium six, made famous in the 2000 film Erin Brokovich, is a carcinogen found in textile dyes, wood preservation, anti-corrosion products and chromate conversion coatings. It is a byproduct of industry. Dr. Darrel Crick, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Concord University, said that there are two kinds of chromium and that both occur naturally: chromium three and chromium six. Chromium three is essential to human health and is found in several foods. Chromium six, on the other hand, is dangerous. According to Crick, it “gains entry to cells by mimicking other far less toxic ions. Once in the cell, it causes a change in DNA structure that can lead to cancer.” It also enters the water supply through the erosion of naturally occurring chromium deposits in the earth, or as a byproduct of industry leaked into the environment, though he was quick to clarify that this does not mean that they are dumping chromium into the water. 

    While Concord is in the affected area found in the Environmental Work Group’s report, Crick believes that there is no immediate cause for concern. “In my opinion, there is a need to address any situations that are leading to chromium contamination and water systems should strive to reduce the amount of carcinogens in water whenever possible. The current federal EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) for total chromium, both 3 and 6, in drinking water is 100 parts per billion. It was established in 1991 based on the amounts of chromium that could cause skin issues.” However, this is not the standard everywhere in the United States, as some states have far stricter ideas regarding chromium six in the water supply. 

Crick said “In 2014, the state of California established a separate chromium six MCL of 10 parts per billion and a Public Health Goal (PHG) of 0.02 parts per billion. The PHG was set based on the amount of chromium that was anticipated to cause no adverse health effects in the most sensitive population over a lifetime. Note that this is a goal, not a regulation.” Whether or not this improves health will be seen and that information might be used to toughen regulations on the federal level in the future. As for right now, and what can be done right now about chromium 6 in the water supply, Crick said, “Many carcinogens can be reduced through treatment of water by established means, but of course at a cost. Careful consideration of the health benefits should be made for all contaminants in order to deliver the maximum health benefits to citizens with available funds.