Basic Information about Chromium in Drinking

Water
Ensuring safe drinking water for all Americans is a top priority for EPA. EPA has an enforceable drinking
water standard of 0.1 milligrams per liter (mg/L) for total chromium, which includes chromium-6 and
chromium-3. This standard was established in 1991 and was based on the best available science at the
time which indicated that some people who use water containing chromium in excess of the drinking
water standard over many years could experience allergic dermatitis (skin reactions).
EPA regularly re-evaluates drinking water standards and, based on new science on chromium-6, had
begun a rigorous and comprehensive review of its health effects in 2008. In September 2010, EPA released
a draft of that scientific assessment for public comment. When this human health assessment is finalized,
EPA will carefully review the conclusions and consider all relevant information to determine if a new
drinking water standard for chromium-6 or a revision to the current total chromium standard is
warranted.

What is chromium?
What are some uses for chromium?
What are chromium's health effects?
What are EPA's drinking water regulations for chromium?

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Why are chromium-6 and chromium-3 covered in the same standard?

How often does the EPA update the total chromium drinking water standard?
How does chromium get into my drinking water?
How will I know if chromium is in my drinking water?
What should I do if I am concerned about the presence of chromium-6 in my drinking water
while EPA is reviewing the science and the regulation?

Can home treatment devices remove chromium-6?

Can I avoid exposure to chromium-6 if I only drink bottled water? (Is there chromium-6 in
bottled water?)

How do I learn more about my drinking water?

What is chromium?
Chromium is an odorless and tasteless metallic element. Chromium is found naturally in rocks, plants, soil
and volcanic dust, humans and animals. The most common forms of chromium that occur in natural
waters in the environment are trivalent chromium (chromium-3), and hexavalent chromium (chromium-6).
Chromium-3 is an essential human dietary element and occurs naturally in many vegetables, fruits, meats,
grains and yeast. Chromium-6 occurs naturally in the environment from the erosion of natural chromium
deposits but it can also be produced by industrial processes. There are demonstrated instances of
chromium being released to the environment by leakage, poor storage, or inadequate industrial waste
disposal practices.

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What are some uses for chromium?

Metallic chromium is used mainly for making steel and other alloys. Chromium compounds in either the
chromium-3 or chromium-6 forms are used for chrome plating, dyes and pigments, leather and wood
preservation.

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What are chromium's health effects?
Chromium-3 is a nutritionally essential element in humans and is often added to vitamins as a dietary
supplement. Chromium-3 has relatively low toxicity and would be a concern in drinking water only at very
high levels of contamination; Chromium-6 is more toxic and poses potential health risks. People who use
water containing total chromium in excess of the maximum contaminant level (MCL) over many years
could experience allergic dermatitis.
In a September 2010 draft human health assessment for chromium-6, EPA proposed to classify
chromium-6 as likely to be carcinogenic to humans when ingested. The Agency continues to work towards
completing the human health assessment and making a final determination about the carcinogenicity of
chromium-6. When the assessment is completed, EPA will determine whether the drinking water standard
for total chromium needs to be revised.
More information regarding EPA's current schedule for the chromium-6 assessment is available
athttp://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iristrac/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewChemical.showChemical&sw_id=1114.

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What are EPA's drinking water regulations for chromium?
The Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA to determine the level of contaminants in drinking water at
which no adverse health effects are likely to occur. These non-enforceable health goals, based on possible
health risks from exposure over a lifetime are called maximum contaminant level goals (MCLG).

The MCLG for total chromium is 0.1 mg/L or 100 parts per billion (ppb). EPA has set this level of
protection based on the best available science at the time the rule was promulgated. EPA has set an
enforceable regulation for total chromium, called a maximum contaminant level (MCL), at 0.1 mg/L or 100
ppb. MCLs are set as close to the health goals as possible, considering cost, benefits and the ability of
public water systems to detect and remove contaminants using suitable treatment technologies. In this
case, the MCL equals the MCLG, because analytical methods or treatment technology do not pose any
limitation.
States may set more stringent drinking water MCLGs and MCLs for total chromium than EPA.
Why are chromium-6 and chromium-3 covered in the same standard?
Chromium-6 and chromium-3 are covered under the total chromium drinking water standard because
these forms of chromium can convert back and forth in water and in the human body, depending on

environmental conditions. Measuring just one form may not capture all of the chromium that is present. In
order to ensure that the greatest potential risk is addressed, EPA's regulation assumes that a
measurement of total chromium is 100 percent chromium-6, the more toxic form.

How often does the EPA update the total chromium drinking water standard?
The Safe Drinking Water Act requires EPA to periodically review the national primary drinking water
regulation for each contaminant and revise the regulation, if appropriate. EPA reviewed total chromium as
part of the second six-year review that was announced in March 2010 . The Agency noted in March 2010
that it had initiated a reassessment of the health risks associated with chromium exposure and that the
Agency did not believe it was appropriate to revise the national primary drinking water regulation while
that effort was in process. In 2008, EPA began a rigorous and comprehensive review of chromium-6
health effects based on new science. When this human health assessment is finalized EPA will carefully
review the conclusions and consider all relevant information to determine if the current chromium
standard should be revised.

More information on the second six year review of drinking water standards.
More information about EPA's ongoing risk assessment for chromium-6

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How does chromium get into my drinking water?
The most common forms of chromium that occur in natural waters in the environment are chromium-3
and chromium-6. Chromium-3 and chromium-6 occur naturally in the environment, and are present in
water from the erosion of chromium deposits found in rocks and soils. Chromium-6 is also produced by
industrial processes and manufacturing activities including discharges from steel and pulp mills among
others. At many locations, chromium compounds have been released to the environment via leakage, poor
storage, or improper disposal practices. Chromium compounds are very persistent in water as sediments.
A federal law called the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act requires facilities in certain
industries, which manufacture, process, or use significant amounts of toxic chemicals, to report annually
on their releases of these chemicals. For more information on the uses and releases of chemicals in your
state, contact the community right-to-know hotline at (800) 424-9346.

EPA's Toxics Release Inventory website provides information about the types and amounts of
toxic chemicals that are released each year to the air, water, and land.

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How will I know if there is chromium in my drinking water?
Your public water system's annual water quality report will provide information if total chromium is
detected in the drinking water it delivers. The water quality report is sent to customers by July 1 of each
year and may also be found on your public water system's website. Some water utilities have conducted
monitoring specifically for chromium-6. Contact your public water system to find out if this information is
available.

Consumers served by private wells can have their water tested by a state certified laboratory. You can find
information on how to sample for chromium-6 and where to send samples by contacting your state water
laboratory certification officer.

Laboratory Certification Program

Additional information about well water testing.

If you are concerned about chromium in a private well, please visit:

EPA's private drinking water wells website

Water Systems Council website

What should I do if I am concerned about the presence of chromium-6 in my drinking water while EPA is
reviewing the science and the regulation?
If you remain concerned after finding out more about the chromium-6 levels in your drinking water, you
may consider taking additional steps.
Can home treatment devices remove chromium-6?
Some home treatment devices are certified by organizations to remove chromium-6. Two
certification organizations are: NSF International
Association

and the Water Quality

. These certification programs are based on current drinking

water standards and home treatment devices are only certified to remove chromium-6 to either
50 or 100 parts per billion. Contact the device's manufacturer for specific information about
how effective the product is, given your water and treatment goal. Your public water system's
water quality report and your water system's staff can help you understand the characteristics
of your water.
If you choose to use a home treatment device, it is very important to follow the manufacturer's
operation and maintenance instructions carefully in order to make sure the device works
properly.
Consumers should be aware that the current EPA drinking water standard for chromium
requires that public water systems provide drinking water that does not exceed a total
chromium concentration of 100 ppb.
Can I avoid exposure to chromium-6 if I only drink bottled water? (Is there chromium-6 in
bottled water?)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) establishes standards for bottled water and has
adopted EPA's total chromium standard of 100 ppb. See for more information about the FDA's
standards for bottled water. Contact bottled water manufacturers for specific information about
levels of chromium-6 in their products.

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How do I learn more about my drinking water?
EPA strongly encourages people to learn more about their drinking water, and to support local efforts to

provide safe drinking water. Your water bill or telephone book's government listings are a good starting
point for local information.
Check your water system provider's website or contact your water provider. EPA requires all community
water systems to prepare and deliver an annual consumer confidence report, sometimes called a water
quality report, to their customers by July 1 of each year.

The consumer confidence report summarizes information regarding sources used, detected
contaminants, compliance and educational information.

Some water suppliers have posted their annual reports on EPA's w