Fun with Chromium-6

[Jaysyn]

Quote:Carcinogenic hexavalent chromium, the "Erin Brockovich chemical" was found in the tap water of 31 cities out of a total of 35 tested by The Environmental Working Group. The scientists estimate that at least 74 million people in the USA in 42 states regularly drink chromium-tainted water, and a considerable proportion of it is in the carcinogenic hexavalent form.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/212079.php

I'd love to see the map below overlaid with a map of cancer rates by state. Personally, I'm in the 2.5 - 5 range & to probably make matters worse, have a well. No idea if our water softener / filter would filter out chromium-6 or not.

[Welsh cake]

Hexavalent chromium effects as a carcinogen have been known for a long time and it is obviously mutagenic when inhaled as dust, but oddly, I've read various papers and court cases it hasn't been established yet whether it is harmful *as a solution* in moderate amounts.

As far as I know we don't have this problem in the UK. If it is a cause for concern you may want to take the time to invest in getting a reverse osmosis water purification unit or filter.

[Jaysyn]

(20th December 2010 21:14)Welsh cake Wrote:  Hexavalent chromium effects as a carcinogen have been known for a long time and it is obviously mutagenic when inhaled as dust, but oddly, I've read various papers and court cases it hasn't been established yet whether it is harmful *as a solution* in moderate amounts.

Interesting, I didn't realize that. I still doubt it's good for you, but will withhold judgment pending more research.

[Jaysyn]

(20th December 2010 21:14)Welsh cake Wrote:  Hexavalent chromium effects as a carcinogen have been known for a long time and it is obviously mutagenic when inhaled as dust, but oddly, I've read various papers and court cases it hasn't been established yet whether it is harmful *as a solution* in moderate amounts.

As far as I know we don't have this problem in the UK. If it is a cause for concern you may want to take the time to invest in getting a reverse osmosis water purification unit or filter.

Apparently we are going to find out.

[orogenicman]

A water softener will not filter out chromium 6. For that, you need a reverse osmosis filter.

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(20th December 2010 21:14)Welsh cake Wrote:  Hexavalent chromium effects as a carcinogen have been known for a long time and it is obviously mutagenic when inhaled as dust, but oddly, I've read various papers and court cases it hasn't been established yet whether it is harmful *as a solution* in moderate amounts.

As far as I know we don't have this problem in the UK. If it is a cause for concern you may want to take the time to invest in getting a reverse osmosis water purification unit or filter.

If the UK has any electroplating factories, chances are, you do have a problem with hexavalent chromium.

[Ashendant]

(24th December 2010 20:49)orogenicman Wrote:  A water softener will not filter out chromium 6. For that, you need a reverse osmosis filter.

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(20th December 2010 21:14)Welsh cake Wrote:  Hexavalent chromium effects as a carcinogen have been known for a long time and it is obviously mutagenic when inhaled as dust, but oddly, I've read various papers and court cases it hasn't been established yet whether it is harmful *as a solution* in moderate amounts.

As far as I know we don't have this problem in the UK. If it is a cause for concern you may want to take the time to invest in getting a reverse osmosis water purification unit or filter.

If the UK has any electroplating factories, chances are, you do have a problem with hexavalent chromium.

The EU is quite Bitchy about this i don't know if this particular chemical is in the EU no list but i'm assuming it is

The EU treats it's chemicals seriously

EDIT: found it

Quote:An EU directive approved by the European Parliament March 27 aims to eliminate a hazard faced by millions of construction workers when they handle cement products.

The directive will require the cement industry to neutralize chromium impurities in cement that cause a disabling form of dermatitis.

The new legislation, due to be signed into law by EU ministers in the coming weeks, is modeled on rules imposed by Scandinavian countries since the 1980s. Germany introduced national rules in 2000.

Under the EU directive, it will be illegal to sell cement and cement products containing more than two parts per million of hexavalent chromium. Above that limit, producers will have to treat cement with ferrous sulphate, a substance available as a waste by-product from the chemical industry. The process reduces chromium VI to a harmless form.

A report from the Parliament's Environment Committee recalled that when chromium VI-containing cement was used in the construction of a rail tunnel between England and France, hundreds of workers among a workforce of 5,900 were diagnosed with dermatitis. By comparison, there were only two cases among the 3,000 workers who operated under the protection of Scandinavian law when they constructed the Great Belt Bridge linking Denmark and Sweden.

Author of the report, Belgian deputy Paul Lannoye said the legislation would address a "significant" occupational health problem that forces more than a thousand workers with varying degrees of incapacity out of the construction industry each year. Annual compensation costs exceed $100 million across the EU.

Lannoye added that the law will apply to EU cement production of 200 million metric tons a year, except where cement that is used in enclosed, automated processes where there is no risk to workers of skin contact.

The legislation forms part of a group of EU prohibitions on dangerous substances.