"Utilities Gird for New Regs as EPA Studies Toxicity of Hex Chromium"

"The drumbeat for imposing federal limits on hexavalent chromium in drinking water is reminding many experts of a similar push several years ago for limiting another likely carcinogen, arsenic.

The two contaminants are put in water by both natural and man-made sources and have been the focus of long public health debates. And the technologies for removing both chemicals from water are complicated and very expensive. ...

U.S. EPA worked for years on arsenic before issuing a drinking water rule for it in 2001. And now the agency is finalizing a draft toxicology assessment of hexavalent chromium -- a contaminant made infamous by the hit 2000 movie "Erin Brockovich" -- that says the compound is a likely carcinogen."

Jeremy P. Jacobs reports for Greenwire April 28, 2011.