What's In Your Water?

A Reasonable Approach to Addressing the Toxic Effects of Chromium in Water

Diverse opinions have been voiced regarding the toxicity of chromium in drinking water. Los Angeles now has lobby groups supporting a point of view that is based upon economic considerations. Legislators are considering the uninformed views of their constituents in order to retain office.

There is no sane method of approach other than a review of extant literature. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has an Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. In September of 2000 they published A Toxicological Profile for Chromium consisting of 419 pages based upon 1,100 scientific studies of chromium. Only after a thorough review of this document and reference to some of the studies cited can one form a rational and reasonable point of view on this metallic element that exists in various chemical states.

A review of this document reveals that the authors (those who compiled and reviewed the literature) conclude: In order to know whether we will be harmed by this toxin we must know dosage, duration, other chemicals to which we have been exposed, family traits, lifestyle and state of health. Most studies on living organisms have involved microorganisms, invertebrates and vertebrates. Studies on humans are limited to victims living near toxic waste sites and necrologies. None the less, we may conclude from this document that infants and the elderly are more at risk; in a pregnant woman the material passes through membranes to the fetus; it is carried in blood cells and serum; it is transferred to infants via breast milk; autopsies reveal concentrations to be highest in kidney, liver, lung, aorta, heart, pancreas and spleen; immune systems that are compromised are attacked by this element; certain diets are higher in chromium than others; manifestations of poisoning can be as overt as chrome sores or as subtle as neurological disorders, ulcers, abdominal pain, diarrhea, indigestion and vomiting. Chromium can cause cancer, point mutations, DNA breakage, DNA-DNA linkage and sister-chromatid crossing over. A number of individuals who lived near toxic waste sites or who consumed chromium compounds have died.

Chromium (VI) is dangerous. It is reduced in the body to a series of intermediate ionic states that result in chromium (III). The fact that chromium (III) has been sold as a nutritional supplement does not validate its safety because studies have shown that it can mutate back to Chromium (VI). Even chromium (III), in high doses, is toxic!

Chromium in ground water is often higher than acceptable and is further concentrated as it passes through pipes leading to household tap water due to their corrosion. Chromium attaches to soil particles and may be carried and transferred in this manner in air or water. Once in the human body, chromium concentrates in the spleen but transfers across cell membranes with ease. It may be carried in the blood serum and stored in erythrocytes, lymphocytes and leucocytes. Studies on mice show the liver accumulates both Chromium (VI) and chromium (III) derived from drinking water when tested after one year. Plants accumulate chromium in diverse organs.

In both Chromium (VI) and chromium (III) we are dealing with a toxin causing a host of diseases as established by reputable scientists. To become involved in any program that allows these toxins to become acceptable as additives to our drinking water is foolish and deadly. Scientists have spoken by way of their research. What is a life worth? Current "recharging" programs are unacceptable and are a special assault on nursing babies, infants, those with compromised immune systems and the elderly. No citizen, even a legislator, has the right to poison the populace in order to meet demands of diverse industries and special interest groups.

— William Emboden, PH.D., F.L.S. Ph. D. from UCLA, five years as Senior Curator of Botany at L.A. Natural Museum, five year appointment at Harvard University as research fellow, eight books published and over 200 papers published in the fields of biology, botany, biochemistry and ethno-pharmacology. Dr. Emboden taught at CSUN for twenty-seven years and continues his research and lecture tours.