Boxer Demands Tougher Test for Chromium 6

Responding to concerns that high levels of chromium--and its toxic byproduct chromium 6--pose a serious threat to public health, U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) called on the federal government Thursday to toughen national standards for the chemical in drinking water.

In a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol Browner, Boxer said federal officials should conduct their own review of safe levels for chromium and chromium 6--just as the state of California is now doing.

“I was disturbed to discover that the federal standard for chromium is far less stringent than state regulations on this dangerous carcinogen,” Boxer wrote. “I urge the EPA to lead an effort to reevaluate the dangers of chromium 6 and include in its investigation an analysis of the risks of ingested chromium 6 through food and water.”

“As the state of California begins the process of reevaluating its standard for this dangerous carcinogen, it seems appropriate for the federal government to conduct a similar review,” Boxer added.

Water regulators say chromium 6 pollution is a byproduct of years of manufacturing in the east San Fernando Valley by Lockheed Martin Corp. and other companies. Among other uses, chromium 6 was used in paint pigments and the chrome-plating process.

Los Angeles and other cities that pump water from the aquifer have been forced to dilute supplies or, in some cases, close wells because of chromium 6 contamination.

The California chromium standard is currently 50 parts per billion for total chromium, compared with the federal Environmental Protection Agency standard of 100 parts per billion.

There is no standard for chromium 6, although state officials say a proposed new standard of 2.5 parts per billion for total chromium is designed to reduce chromium 6 levels to 0.2 parts per billion.

Boxer spokesman Matthew Kagan said the senator’s action was prompted by numerous letters and phone calls from constituents in Southern California who expressed their concern over possible chromium 6 contamination in drinking water supplies.

“After the first reports of possible contamination, Sen. Boxer’s phone began ringing off the hook,” Kagan said. “The senator’s constituents want to make sure the water is safe.”

EPA spokeswoman Robin Woods said agency officials had not yet seen the letter, which was also sent to President-elect Bush’s designated EPA administrator, Christine Todd Whitman. Woods said the agency would comment as quickly as possible after reviewing the document.

The letter comes amid a vigorous debate in California over whether to further slash chromium levels to cut chromium 6. The chemical is considered carcinogenic when inhaled through particles or vapor, but scientists differ over the threat it poses when consumed in water.

Two years ago, the state office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment issued a public health goal that called for cutting levels of chromium in California drinking water from 50 parts per billion to 2.5 parts per billion.

When The Times reported Aug. 20 that the state Department of Health Services had not acted on the recommendation and that implementation could take another five years, state and local lawmakers demanded faster action.

In October, the Legislature enacted and Gov. Gray Davis signed SB 2127, requiring the state health department to determine chromium 6 levels in drinking water supplied by San Fernando Valley aquifers, to assess the risk to the public and to report its findings to the Legislature by Jan. 1, 2002. Officials say the findings will have an impact statewide.

More recently, a group of state lawmakers--including state Sens. Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento) and Jack Scott (D-Altadena)--said that they would press for an “action level” on total chromium that would require public notice when the chemical exceeds 2.5 parts per billion in drinking water.

Health Services spokeswoman Leah Brooks said the agency is currently considering setting that action level. In addition, she said her agency on Jan. 3 ordered local water agencies in California to begin monitoring for chromium 6.

David Spath, drinking water chief for the Department of Health Services, welcomed any involvement by the federal EPA.

“It would be a good thing to have the EPA look at the issues that have been raised with regard to carcinogenicity in drinking water,” Spath said.

“You want to try and avoid one state or agency reaching a different conclusion from another, particularly at the national level. When it’s possible, we want to make every effort to come to the same conclusion.”