Chromium-6
A Cancer-Causing Toxin
Chromium-6, also known as hexavalent chromium, is an unstable form of chromium, an element that occurs naturally in the environment
There are other types of naturally-occurring chromium, but chromium-6 is commonly used and produced as a byproduct of industrial production. The stainless steel industry, and any other manufacturer of anti-corrosives, are the main cause of chromium-6-related industrial pollution.
It specifically targets respiratory and digestive systems, produces kidney and liver damage, skin reactions, and has been known to cause cancers targeting those areas. It’s especially dangerous for those already vulnerable members of the population like young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions like asthma.
Test For Chromium-6 In Water
Like many other metallic elements, chromium in general and chromium-6, are odorless and tasteless when dissolved in water, so it can be nearly impossible to tell if you have it in your water.
If you live near any kind of industrial manufacturer or processor, or if you live in an area that has been shown to be contaminated with chromium-6 in the past (use this chromium-6 map to see if your home falls in an area of concern), the best way to determine if it’s affecting you and your home is through a water test.
Man can test your water for free, and tell you whether or not chromium-6, or any other contaminants are present in your tap water. And while a certain trace amount of total chromium is allowable, and even safe, in water supplies the legal limit for chromium-6 in drinking water is 0.02 parts per billion (ppb). If your test results return anything above that, you’ll want to consider a solution to remove it from your water.
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Effects of Chromium-6
While the long-term effects of Chromium-6 are still being studied, when it comes to your drinking water, Culligan recommends erring on the side of caution. Fortunately, Culligan offers the Aqua-Cleer Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water System. Our reverse osmosis drinking water system utilizes a series of advanced filters designed to remove a plethora of impurities* from your water including Chromium-6, lead, chlorine, nitrates and more! If you are interested in learning if Chromium-6 has tested positive in your water supply, check out this interactive map.
Culligan offers a Reverse Osmosis Water Filter which can help reduce Chromium-6 in your water.
Remove Chromium-6 from Water
The most effective way to ensure chromium-6 is removed from your water supply is through either reverse osmosis filtration or sophisticated carbon and micron filtration. Culligan can make a recommendation about which of the styles of reverse osmosis filter would make sense for your home, and help you understand how the chromium-6 removal process works.