Cancer-causing metal found in drinking water in Bergen, Passaic counties, report says
A metal that can cause cancer has been found in drinking water throughout New Jersey including all systems that serve Bergen and Passaic counties, according to a national report released Tuesday by an advocacy group.=
While state officials don’t consider the levels of hexavalent chromium an imminent health threat, the Environmental Working Group said New Jersey regulators had backtracked on establishing a more stringent health standard for the metal.
“Americans deserve to know if there are potentially harmful levels of a cancer-causing chemical in their tap water,” said David Andrews, co-author of the report, which compiled data submitted to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from water providers nationwide.
Hexavalent chromium can cause lung cancer if its crystals are inhaled and stomach tumors if consumed, according to federal health officials. It gained national attention after the release of the 2000 film “Erin Brockovich” which chronicled the true life story of polluted water in a California town. Hexavalent chromium is also well known in Garfield, where it has contaminated water under a neighborhood for more than 30 years and has seeped into basements.
Read more: http://www.northjersey.com/news/cancer-causing-metal-found-in-drinking-water-in-bergen-passaic-counties-report-says-1.1663452
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