Chromium (total)

Pennsylvania American Water Pittsburgh

Chromium is a naturally occurring metal, but industrial uses can elevate its levels in water. One form, hexavalent chromium, causes cancer. Total chromium is not a good indicator of the amount of hexavalent chromium in drinking water.

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Samples

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

Year	Average result	Samples taken	Detections	Range of results
2014	0.317 ppb	6	4	ND - 0.600 ppb
2015	0.436 ppb	14	10	ND - 1.10 ppb
2016	ND	2	0	ND
2017	ND	2	0	ND
2018	ND	2	0	ND
2019	ND	2	0	ND

ppb = parts per billion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 100 ppb

The legal limit for total chromium, established in 1991, was based on a 1958 toxicity study in laboratory animals, and applies to both the less-toxic trivalent chromium and the more-toxic hexavalent chromium forms of this compound. This limit does not protect against the risk of cancer from ingestion of hexavalent chromium.

ppb = parts per billion

All test results

Date	Lab ID	Result
2014-01-08	24419701	ND
2014-01-09	24420401	ND
2014-10-07	27347101	0.600 ppb
2014-10-07	27347001	0.400 ppb
2014-10-07	27111601	0.300 ppb
2014-10-13	27112801	0.600 ppb
2015-01-05	12344335	ND
2015-01-06	12344389	ND
2015-01-12	27898801	0.400 ppb
2015-01-13	27897401	ND
2015-01-13	27898701	0.900 ppb
2015-01-13	27898201	ND
2015-04-08	28580501	0.500 ppb
2015-04-08	28580301	0.700 ppb
2015-04-08	28579701	1.10 ppb
2015-04-13	28580601	0.400 ppb
2015-07-15	29576101	0.300 ppb
2015-07-15	29574501	0.400 ppb
2015-07-15	29576701	0.800 ppb
2015-08-25	30285501	0.600 ppb
2016-01-04	13812702	ND
2016-01-11	13812716	ND
2017-01-04	15587512	ND
2017-01-04	15587622	ND
2018-01-08	38170301	ND
2018-01-08	38169301	ND
2019-01-02	42507101	ND
2019-01-03	42507901	ND