Contact: Marie Francis (202) 249-6514
Email:
Marie_Francis@americanchemistry
WASHINGTON (October 11, 2013)
- The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today held a public hearing on its proposed maximum contaminant level (MCL) for hexavalent chromium in drinking water. The proposed MCL is 10 parts per billion (ppb).
The Hexavalent Chromium Panel of the American Chemistry Council released the following statement:
"ACC was pleased to have the opportunity to publicly voice its concern over the proposed MCL for hexavalent chromium in drinking water. Simply put, the State of California can still protect the health of its residents and limit burdensome costs on businesses and households by maintaining the current MCL of 50 ppb.
"The proposed MCL is unnecessarily stringent, as evidenced by an extensive set of peer-reviewed papers that have been
published
on the effects of exposure to low levels of hexavalent chromium in drinking water. These studies show that there was no observed toxicity in rodents exposed to concentrations of hexavalent chromium in drinking water at the current federal MCL of 100 ppb for total chromium or at the California MCL of 50 ppb for total chromium. This research indicates that the current MCL in California is fully protective of public health.
"Moreover, the cost to California households to implement this proposed MCL is high and disproportionately burdensome on those who are already struggling. Some estimates conclude that compliance costs could equal as much as 15 to 20 percent of household income for Californians living in areas that CDPH classifies as 'disadvantaged' and 'severely disadvantaged' communities.
"CDPH should reissue an MCL that is both health-protective and economically feasible."
» Latest research on hexavalent chromium in drinking water
» Read the ACC comments on the CA proposed drinking water standard