Researchers have revealed that chromium present in water causes cancer when consumed by people. Hexavalent chromium compounds are often used in electroplating, leather tanning and textile manufacturing and have been found in some drinking water sources.
When released to land, chromium compounds bind to soil are not likely to migrate to ground water. They are very persistent in water as sediments.
Environmentalists have been calling for restrictions in the amount of chromium that could be allowed in drinking water citing the health hazards that it could cause when consumed.
Researchers gave water containing high doses of chromium 6 to rats over a period of two years and found that this caused malignant tumors in them. However, the doses given to the rats were in high doses as compared to the quantity of chromium that is actually found in the drinking water.
According to feedingwater, Environmental Protection Agency has found chromium to potentially cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for relatively short periods of time: skin irritation or ulceration. Also, in the long-term, Chromium has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: damage to liver, kidney circulatory and nerve tissues; skin irritation.
Researchers advise consumers to get their drinking water tested and notify the health officials if the level of chromium found in drinking water exceeds the MCL which is 0.1 ppm. Coagulation/Filtration, Ion Exchange, Reverse Osmosis, Lime Softening are some of the treatments methods that has been approved by the EPA for removing chromium.
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