National Drinking Water Database
National Drinking Water Database - Chemical Contaminants
Chromium (hexavalent)
Status: Regulated - EPA has established a maximum legal limit in tapwater for this contaminant.
Chromium is a metal that pollutes drinking water due to discharge from steel and pulp mills and erosion of natural deposits. [read more]
Detected |
Found above health guidelines |
Found above legal limit |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| States | 2 |
1 |
1 |
| Water utilities | 247 |
1 |
1 |
| People Served | 31,175,185 |
156,500 |
156,500 |
Health Concerns for Chromium (hexavalent):
- Allergies/immunotoxicity
- Cancer
- Occupational hazards
- Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
- Ecotoxicology
- Persistence and bioaccumulation
Chromium (hexavalent) Exposure by State
Water utilities in 2 states have reported detecting Chromium (hexavalent) in treated tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies.
| State | Water Suppliers with Chromium (hexavalent) contamination | Water suppliers reporting Chromium (hexavalent) above health-based limits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Systems | Population | Systems | Population | |
| California | 246 | 31,175,061 | 1 | 156,500 |
| Ohio | 1 | 124 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 247 | 31,175,185 | 1 | 156,500 |
The Most Polluted Communities
247 water utilities reported detecting Chromium (hexavalent) in tap water since 2004, according to EWG's analysis of water quality data supplied by state water agencies
Ranked by highest average Chromium (hexavalent) level
| Rank | System | Population Served | Positive test results of total reported tests | Average Level (Range) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Eureka Eureka, CA | 28,334 | 2 of 2 | 93 ppb (93 ppb) |
| 2 | Santa Ynez Rancho Estates Mwc Santa Ynez, CA | 294 | 1 of 1 | 25.15 ppb (25.15 ppb) |
| 3 | California Water Service Co. - Dixon San Jose, CA | 9,600 | 1 of 1 | 25 ppb (25 ppb) |
| 4 | Hidden Valley Lake Csd Hidden Valley Lake, CA | 6,757 | 9 of 9 | 23.5 ppb (20 to 28 ppb) |
| 5 | Paradise Lake Mwc Salinas, CA | 180 | 1 of 1 | 20 ppb (20 ppb) |
| 6 | Volta Community Sd Volta, CA | 150 | 1 of 1 | 20 ppb (20 ppb) |
| 7 | City of Coachella Coachella, CA | 24,282 | 3 of 3 | 19.83 ppb (18.67 to 21.5 ppb) |
| 8 | Sbndo County Service Area 70j Victorville, CA | 4,821 | 22 of 22 | 19.1 ppb (15 to 23 ppb) |
| 9 | City of Watsonville Watsonville, CA | 62,000 | 1 of 1 | 19 ppb (19 ppb) |
| 10 | Shady Oaks Trailer Park Orland, CA | 48 | 1 of 1 | 19 ppb (19 ppb) |
Health Based Limits for Chromium (hexavalent)
| Standard | Description | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum Contaminant Limit (MCL) | The enforceable standard which defines the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to health-based limits (Maximum Contaminant Level Goals, or MCLGs) as feasible using the best available analytical and treatment technologies and taking cost into consideration. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. | 100 ppb |
Testing Summary for Chromium (hexavalent)
| Are tests routinely required for Chromium (hexavalent) by federal law? | Yes |
| Water suppliers reporting tests for Chromium (hexavalent) (2004-2009): | 454 of 47,576 |
| Average testing rate for water supplier reporting tests (2004-2009): | 0.8 per year |
Allergies/immunotoxicity
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Human immune and respiratory toxicant or allergen - strong evidence | Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics |
Cancer
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| One or more animal studies show tumor formation at very low doses | RTECS®- Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1955 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Toxicologist 2003 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1955 |
| One or more in vitro tests on mammalian cells show positive mutation results | RTECS®- Toxicologist 2008 |
| One or more animal studies show tumor formation at moderate doses | RTECS®- Zeitschrift fuer Krebsforschung 1942 |
Occupational hazards
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 |
| Allowed workplace exposures restricted to low doses | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive)
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Classified as expected to be toxic or harmful | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| Classified as medium human health priority | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
| One or more animal studies show broad systemic effects at low doses | RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1972 |
| Limited evidence of toxicity | A Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases, 1990 |
| Limited evidence of toxicity | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center |
| One or more animal studies show classified as toxic effects at moderate doses (low dose studies may be unavailable for this ingredient) | EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs |
| One or more animal studies show no adverse effects at high doses | EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs |
Ecotoxicology
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Wildlife and environmental toxicity | EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants |
| Not suspected to be an environmental toxin | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Persistence and bioaccumulation
| Type of concern: | Reference: |
| Not suspected to be bioaccumulative | Environment Canada Domestic Substance List |
Government, industry, academic studies and classifications
| government/industry list/academic study | appears on list as | classification(s) |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | CHROMIUM, NOT HEXAVALENT | • ARS |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | CHROMIUM, NOT HEXAVALENT | • Asthmagen sensitizer |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | CHROMIUM, NOT HEXAVALENT | • Asthmagen sensitizer |
| EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants | CHROMIUM | •Priority water pollutant under the Clean Water Act |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | CHROMIUM | •This chemical was deemed a moderate human health priority and was flagged by CEPA for further attention. The chemical was flagged for suspected persistence. |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | CHROMIUM; CHROMIUM METAL | •Toxic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | CHROMIUM COMPOUNDS -- TRI | •Toxic, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Toxics Release Inventory programs |
| A Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases, 1990 | CHROMIUM | •Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected |
| US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center | CHROMIUM (III) | •Respiratory toxicity hazards: suspected |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | CHROMIUM | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | CHROMIUM | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | CHROMIUM | • occupationally related - ACGIH TLV (human TWA) |
| RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1972 | CHROMIUM | • broad systemic - Broad systemic toxicity (rat LD50) |
| RTECS®- Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1955 | CHROMIUM | • cancer - blood tumor formations - equivocal (rat TDLo) • cancer - gastrointestinal tumor formations - equivocal (rat TDLo) • cancer - Tumors at site of application (rat TDLo) |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2003 | CHROMIUM | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage ( human lng) |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2008 | CHROMIUM | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage ( human lym) |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2003 | CHROMIUM | • mutagenic - Positive mutation assay: DNA Damage ( human lng) |
| RTECS®- Zeitschrift fuer Krebsforschung 1942 | CHROMIUM | • cancer - musculoskeletal tumor formations - equivocal (rabbit TDLo) |
references
| government/industry list/academic study | reference |
| Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics | AOEC (Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics). 2009. AEOC exposures codes and asthmagen designation. |
| EPA Clean Water Act - Priority Pollutants | |
| Environment Canada Domestic Substance List | EC (Environment Canada). 2008. Domestic Substances List Categorization. Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) Environmental Registry. |
| EPA Toxic Release Inventory PBTs | EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency). 1999. Toxics Release Inventory Program. PBT Chemical Rule. |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | A Relational Database of Hazardous Chemicals and Occupational Diseases. Browse Haz-Map by Adverse Effects http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/hazmapadv.html, Nemery, B. Metal Toxicity and the Respiratory Tract. European Respiratory Journal. 3(2): 202-219. 1990.(Table 1: Summary of pulmonary toxicity of metals). |
| Scorecard.org Toxicity Information | US EPA, Air Risk Information Support Center. Health Effects Notebook for Hazardous Air Pollutants. http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/hapindex.html |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2005 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2006 |
| RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 | RTECS®- TLV/BEI,2007 |
| RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya 1972 | RTECS®- Gigiena i Sanitariya. For English translation, see HYSAAV. (V/O Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga, 113095 Moscow, USSR) V.1- 1936- 37(10),27,1972 |
| RTECS®- Journal of the National Cancer Institute 1955 | RTECS®- Journal of the National Cancer Institute. (Washington, DC) V.1-60, 1940-78. For publisher information, see JJIND8. 16,447,1955 |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2003 | RTECS®- Toxicologist. (Soc. of Toxicology, Inc., 475 Wolf Ledge Parkway, Akron, OH 44311) V.1- -1981 72,219,2003 |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2008 | RTECS®- Toxicologist. (Soc. of Toxicology, Inc., 475 Wolf Ledge Parkway, Akron, OH 44311) V.1- 1981- 12,430,2008 |
| RTECS®- Toxicologist 2003 | RTECS®- Toxicologist. (Soc. of Toxicology, Inc., 475 Wolf Ledge Parkway, Akron, OH 44311) V.1- 1981- 72,219,2003 |
| RTECS®- Zeitschrift fuer Krebsforschung 1942 | RTECS®- Zeitschrift fuer Krebsforschung. (Berlin, Fed. Rep. Ger.) V.1-75, 1903-71. For publisher information, see JCROD7. 52,425,1942 |
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