A state lawmaker wants California to set limits on a known carcinogen in tap water. Democratic Assemblywoman Nora Campos has a bill that would require the state’s Department of Public Health to set a standard for hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium six. The chemical gained infamy in the movie Erin Brokovich.
Campos, who lives in San Jose, points to a recent study by the Environmental Working Group. She said it found chromium six levels that were higher than California’s proposed public health goals in more than two dozen U.S. cities.
“As a mother of a two-and-a-half year old, I was shocked to hear that we had chromium six at a high level in San Jose,” Campos said. “So for me to take this on, it’s a personal issue. But not just for me, but for all mothers and all children in the state of California and for all Californians.”
The state is in the process of setting a goal for the maximum safe level of chromium six in water. Campos’ bill would require that to be an official standard. Chromium six is a byproduct of metal manufacturing and also occurs naturally.
