31 cities’ tap water has cancer-causing hexavalent chromium, study say

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   Stacie Lposted 13 years ago

   
   
   
   
   "Despite mounting evidence of the contaminant's toxic effects, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not set a legal limit for chromium-6 in tap water and does not require water utilities to test for it. Hexavalent chromium is commonly discharged from steel and pulp mills as well as metal-plating and leather-tanning facilities. It can also pollute water through erosion of natural deposits.
   
   "The authoritative National Toxicology Program (NTP) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has said that chromium-6 in drinking water shows 'clear evidence of carcinogenic activity' in laboratory animals, increasing the risk of gastrointestinal tumors. Just last October, a draft review by the EPA similarly found that ingesting the chemical in tap water is 'likely to be carcinogenic to humans.' Other health risks associated with exposure include liver and kidney damage, anemia and ulcers."
   
   http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thelookou … g-chemical

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2. 77

   Aficionadaposted 13 years ago

   However on God's Green Earth did Nebraska get so contaminated?  And Nevada and New Mexico?  Does the "N" initial have anything to do with it?  (Sorry, I know it's serious.)  I can understand why other areas have the kind of results shown, but those three do honestly confuse me.  Any explanations?

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3. 61

   paradigmsearchposted 13 years ago

   .
   Yep, and I live in one of the really sucky areas.  And so it goes…

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   1. 77

      Aficionadaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      But what causes it?  Industry or leaching of natural resources?
      
      And do you import drinking water - or just live with it?

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         paradigmsearchposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         It's industrial waste.
         
         See the movie Erin Brockovich.

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            Aficionadaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I do see it from time to time.  Even own a copy, but it's VHS, believe it or not.  That's one of the reasons I am concerned.
            
            I'm not trying to pry, but are there industries of that kind in Nebraska?  I usually think of it as having a high percentage of farmland.  And if that kind of contamination is present there, then think what it may be doing to the food supply!
            
            Where I live, there are two small towns that have concentrations of health problems which I believe are related to chemicals of some kind.  I would love to know how to track down the right kind of information to point some friends in the right direction, alert the city fathers, etc.

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               paradigmsearchposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               The real Erin Brockovich works at a law firm which has a website… I’d bet that would be an excellent place to start. They could probably tell you exactly where to find the information. And maybe a lot more…

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                  Aficionadaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Thanks for the suggestion!  Excellent idea.

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                  1. 61

                     paradigmsearchposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     If this thread ends up initiating a chain of events that result in helping solve this problem, then that would be a really nice thing indeed.

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4. 61

   paradigmsearchposted 13 years ago

   And no… We don’t live with it, we die with it.

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   1. 77

      Aficionadaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Ouch.
      
      Yep.
      
      See my above post.  In the two towns I mentioned, I know of a high number of people with cancer.  I also know a case where one family member (of a friend) began showing unusual personality symptoms or traits after they moved into their current house.  Some close neighbors of theirs have cancer too.  It makes me wonder.

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5. 86

   Pcunixposted 13 years ago

   Is it also wonderful that irrigation water could put this into food?  Anybody know how much of this gets taken up into plants?

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      Stacie Lposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      oh don't worry!
      the govt is taking over the food production soon....

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6. 79

   psycheskinnerposted 13 years ago

   I suspect it has a number of sources.  No great surprise it is in the Chicago water, what isn't?

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7. 82

   2besureposted 13 years ago

   It is not surprise that our water is contaminated.  For years, companies have been dumping waste in our rivers and stream.  Now the chickens have...well you know!

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8. 86

   rebekahELLEposted 13 years ago

   their biggest industry is agriculture..
   home of ConAgra which is a big producer of food.
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ConAgra_Foods
   
   alarming, isn't it?

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9. 49

   JBMarcus1posted 13 years ago

   I am running the Boston Marathon to Raise money for Cancer Research - Take A Look
   
   http://hubpages.com/hub/2011TrainingJBM

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10. 0

    Car Donationsposted 13 years ago

    The contamination is coming from a lot of places. Environment, industrial/commercial pollution. I am most upset that water suppliers have not stepped in and let their consumers know about this. I would want to know if there is a chemical in my water that causes cancer and could kill me!
    
    http://hubpages.com/hub/Chemical-In-Dri … use-Cancer

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11. 72

    BlissfulWriterposted 13 years ago

    That's why I use a filter pitcher to filter my tap water.

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