CANCER-CAUSING CHROMIUM MAY TAINT VALLEY'S WATER.Byline: Deborah Sullivan Daily News Staff Writer Chromium contamination poses a possible threat to the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. groundwater supply, water officials told City Council members Monday. Although levels of the cancer-causing chemical in the Valley's drinking-water supply are within existing health limits, officials are concerned that chromium in the soil could eventually seep into wells. They also are worried that stricter state health standards for chromium could force closure of water treatment plants in Burbank and Glendale that aren't designed to remove the chemical from water supplies. Next month, a task force of state and local agencies will begin a $450,000 program funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), independent agency of the U.S. government, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1970 to reduce and control air and water pollution, noise pollution, and radiation and to ensure the safe handling and to address the problem. ``The goal of the investigation is to determine whether there are high levels of chromium in soils of the San Fernando Valley and, if there are, to clean up that soil so it will no longer be a problem in drinking water drinking water supply of water available to animals for drinking supplied via nipples, in troughs, dams, ponds and larger natural water sources; an insufficient supply leads to dehydration; it can be the source of infection, e.g. leptospirosis, salmonellosis, or of poisoning, e.g. ,'' Catherine Tyrrell, director of groundwater cleanup for the Regional Water Quality Control Board, told the council's Environmental Quality and Waste Management Committee. Water quality officials said drinking water in the Valley currently meets the state standard for chromium of 50 parts per billion, and is safe for drinking. But soil contaminated contaminated, v 1. made radioactive by the addition of small quantities of radioactive material. 2. made contaminated by adding infective or radiographic materials. 3. an infective surface or object. with chromium from industrial operations could leach into the drinking water supply if left unchecked, officials said. Furthermore, a new state health goal could lower the permitted level to 2.5 parts per billion, based on evidence that chromium might cause health problems at lower levels than previously thought. Hexavalent chromium Hexavalent chromium or Cr(VI) compounds are those which contain the element chromium in the +6 oxidation state. Chromates are often used as pigments for photography, and in pyrotechnics, dyes, paints, inks, and plastics. is a known cancer-causing agent when inhaled, so scientists assume it can cause cancer if ingested in·gest tr.v. in·gest·ed, in·gest·ing, in·gests 1. To take into the body by the mouth for digestion or absorption. See Synonyms at eat. 2. through drinking water, said Kimiko Klein, a toxicologist with the California Environmental Protection Agency The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) was created in 1991 by Governor Pete Wilson, through an executive order.[1] The agency combined six board, departments, and offices into one cabinet-level office:[2] Several Valley wells in North Hollywood and the Sylmar area show chromium levels higher than the potential new standard, with the highest level at 4.22 parts per billion of hexavalent chromium in wells near the city of San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. , the Department of Water and Power reported. Levels in Burbank and Glendale are even higher - about 22 parts per billion - but still within health limits, said Mel Blevins, Valley water master. If state standards are lowered, treatment plants in Glendale and Burbank might have to shut down, Blevins said. The plants were designed to remove other toxic substances called volatile organic chemicals, and are incapable of filtering chromium without costly upgrades, he said. If the plants are not upgraded, they would have to be closed and their water supply would be unavailable, Blevins said. But Pankaj Parekh, manager of regulatory affairs Regulatory Affairs (RA), also called Government Affairs, is a profession within regulated industries, such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, energy, and banking. Regulatory Affairs professionals usually have responsibility for the following general areas: ```They would have to look at the availability of cleanup and testing technology,'' he said. |
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