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d r% <br /> 'l: S 14ews Ffelease <br /> CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES <br /> NUMBER: 05-01 DATE: Jan. 16, 2001 <br /> FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATE CONTACT: Ken August or <br /> http://www.dhs.ca.gov Lea Brooks <br /> (916) 657-3064 <br /> STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISSUES REGULATIONS THAT REQUIRE <br /> MONITORING OF CHROMIUM 6 IN DRINKING WATER <br /> SACRAMENTO - More than 4,800 drinking water systems are required to <br /> monitor for nine "unregulated" chemicals, including chromium 6, under new regulations <br /> announced today by the California Department of Health Services (DHS). <br /> The regulation, which took effect Jan. 3, requires drinking water systems to <br /> monitor for the unregulated chemicals for which drinking water standards have not been <br /> established. The objective of the regulation is to collect data throughout the state to <br /> determine the occurrence of these chemicals to help DHS make regulatory decisions <br /> that will adequately protect public health. The new regulations repeal and replace <br /> existing regulations governing unregulated chemical monitoring. <br /> DHS currently regulates chromium in drinking water as total chromium. DHS' <br /> drinking water standard for total chromium is 50 parts per billion. Total chromium is <br /> comprised of chromium 3 and chromium 6, also known as hexavalent chromium. Both <br /> are naturally occurring and are found in groundwater. Chromium 3 is an important <br /> dietary supplement necessary for public health. While chromium 6 is a known <br /> occupational carcinogen through inhalation, scientists differ over the potential health <br /> effects posed when consumed in water. Industrial processes such as electroplating are <br /> significant contributors to chromium 6 contamination of groundwater. <br /> Due to the high level of public concern about chromium 6, the regulation was <br /> adopted on an emergency basis to expedite monitoring for this chemical. All drinking <br /> water systems with sources determined by DHS to be vulnerable to chromium 6 must <br /> monitor to enable DHS to determine both its occurrence and the proportion of chromium <br /> 6 in the "total chromium" level. <br /> In conjunction with the regulation, DHS' Environmental Laboratory Accreditation <br /> Program has granted "interim" certification for chromium 6 analysis to 12 laboratories. <br /> Other laboratories may be certified in the future for this chemical. <br /> The other chemicals for which monitoring is required are: Boron, <br /> dichlorodifluoromethane, ETBE, perchlorate, TAME, tert-butyl alcohol, 1,2,3- <br /> trichloropropane and vanadium. <br /> -more- <br />