BSK Analytical Laboratories News

BSK Offers Low-Level Hexavalent Chromium Analysis

A recent publication of the Environmental Working Group as well as the reduction of California’s Public Health Goal (PHG) for Hexavalent Chromium has triggered a renewed interest in the presence of this element in the nation’s water supply. The issuance of this revised PHG is one of the first steps towards the development of a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for a compound. Unfortunately, as no regulations currently exist at either the state or federal level, Hexavalent Chromium or Chromium-6 as it’s also referred, often goes unmonitored and unregulated in many public and private water systems.

Currently, the only existing regulations related to Chromium are based on Total Chromium. The EPA has established an MCL for Total Chromium at a level of 100 ug/L (ppb) and the State of California has established an even lower MCL of 50 ug/L for all drinking water sources in the State. While this federal standard was established based on the assumption that 100% of the Total Chromium was attributable to Chromium-6, recent studies have indicated that Chromium-6 may be potentially more harmful than previously believed.

A recent memorandum from the EPA provides guidance for all public water systems on the monitoring of Chromium-6 in drinking water supplies. The memo strongly encourages these systems to consider the agency’s recommendations on how they might enhance their monitoring for Chromium-6. One aspect of this enhanced monitoring is the practice of analyzing drinking water samples on a regular basis at levels significantly below previous industry standards.

BSK Associates’ Lab Service Division has responded to this renewed interest in Chromium-6 by making enhancements to our methods and equipment. With these enhancements, the laboratory has achieved the low-level detection limits necessary to meet California’s rigorous new PHG. BSK has a reporting limit of 0.05 ug/L and can detect the presence of Chromium-6 all the way down to the revised PHG of 0.02 ug/L.

Please contact the Client Services Department in our Fresno, CA laboratory at 800-877-8310 if you have any questions, need a quotation, or would like to arrange for sample containers.

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