
People have been alarmed by prevailing contaminants that pollute our water systems. There are a lot of contaminants present that pose certain risks to a person's health. One of the contaminants that have been given attention now is Chromium 6.
It has been found that Chromium 6 is starting to contaminate our water at an alarming rate. Not to mention that this particular contaminant can be harmful when consumed over some time.
Studies and research have been conducted to explain the nature of Chromium 6 and what it does to our water and, most importantly, a person's health.
Nonetheless, spreading knowledge and awareness to the community on dealing with such a contaminant is paramount. If it contaminates our waters and harms our health, we would want to know how to remove it from our drinking water.
There is a choice whether just to ignore the fact that your water might be contaminated with Chromium 6 and just go about with your daily activities, or you could try to at least educate yourself about the potential health risks this contaminant might cost you one day.
Yes, you may not be seeing or experiencing any health problems now and might just think everything is okay. However, it is best advised to stay alert and aware of the consequences it may bring.
Everyone deserves the right to have access to safe and drinkable water, and no one should be deprived of that right. It is just proper to add that everyone deserves the right to be informed.
What is Chromium 6?
Chromium 6 is an element of the periodic table classified under the metallic element chromium. Another term known for calling Chromium 6 is the Hexavalent Chromium.
Chromium 6 does not carry any distinct smell or taste. In addition, it naturally evolves in different kinds of rocks, soils, ores, volcanic dust, and even in plants, animals, and humans.
Numerous kinds of Chromium were recognized. But, the most identifiable forms of Chromium in society are trivalent Chromium (chromium-3), hexavalent Chromium (chromium-6), and the metal form of Chromium (chromium-0).
Although the numerous forms of Chromium are prevalent, we will be tackling Chromium 6 in particular. This is because the chemical compound threatens the quality and safety of our water, especially for consumption.
Typically, Chromium 6 is produced through different industrial processes. Chromium 6 is commonly used for manufacturing chrome plates, an essential component in making stainless steel, which plays an important role in wood preservation, leather tanning, and textile dyes and pigments. It has also been proven that Chromium 6 is a great compound for anti-corrosion usage and conversion coatings.
How to Remove Chromium 6 in Drinking Water
It can be a difficult task to remove Chromium 6 from your water source completely. Unlike lead, which can be removed through flushing the pipes, since lead leaches into the water pipes, Chromium 6 is different.
Flushing your water pipes would not result in trying to remove or reduce Chromium 6 in water. This is because chromium six is mixed from the water source itself.
A few methods to efficiently remove Chromium 6 in your water are reverse osmosis and a high-end water filtration system.
Things to do to protect the Family
Installing a water filter is one of the simplest yet most effective ways of dealing with high levels of Chromium in drinking water.
On the other hand, many people turn to bottled water as a temporary solution. However, this method must be approached with caution. Although bottled water companies follow the same standard as public water utilities, they are not required to publicly announce their findings.
As such, bottled water can contain chemical contaminants that exceed the levels allowed by the state. Also, it is not tested often for biological contaminants. Finally, bottled water is harmful to the environment due to plastic bottles.
You can have the countertop filter or the pitcher filter for affordable protection. Indeed, these units are more affordable than reverse osmosis. But do your research and check those products that can remove the Chromium 6.
What is Reverse Osmosis?

Reverse osmosis treats water and removes harmful contaminants from water by applying pressure to the water that forces water molecules to pass through a semipermeable membrane.
The semipermeable membrane comprises microscopic pores that prevent contaminants from passing through. The contaminants are filtered out during that process, leaving you with contaminant-free water.
When the contaminants are separated from the water source, they are drained from the reverse osmosis water system.
Permeate, or product, is used when the water successfully enters the membrane. Usually, the permeate or product has contaminants removed by up to 95% to 99%.
A variety of reverse osmosis systems are now available on the market. However, such systems do not promise the same level of contaminant removal as higher ends of water filtration products.
It has been proven that although reverse osmosis can remove contaminants, there are still more effective filtration devices that assure a higher contaminant removal rate. One example of a water filtration system is the Berkey Water Filtration System.
What is the Berkey Water Filtration Systems?

The Berkey Water Filtration Systems has been the most talked-about water system product globally.
They have set high standards worldwide for ensuring safe and healthy drinking water. It has already been tested and proven that the Berkey Water Filtration System can reduce 99.99% of all potentially harmful water contaminants and pollutants.
Not to mention that the Berkey Water Filtration System can also significantly reduce fluoride, arsenic, and even food coloring that was mixed in your waters. On top of that, it still manages to leave all the necessary nutrients that the body needs for a day-to-day encounter.
The Berkey Water Filtration Systems are designed with a well-constructed, highly polished 304 stainless steel. It also comes with an essential kit package containing 2 Black Berkey elements (expandable to 4), 2 chambers, a lid, a spigot, a rubber gasket base, and 2 blocking plugs.
In addition, the Berkey system can significantly reduce fluoride and arsenic through its PF-2 Fluoride and Arsenic filters installed in the lower chamber. To top it all off, the Berkey systems can also remove food coloring mixed with the water.
The Black Berkey Elements are the heart of the Berkey Water Filtration System. It is the one that is responsible for doing all the filtration work, and it is found to be very effective and reliable when you want to provide your household with safe and drinkable water.
Here are some of our products in the Berkey Water Filter that can help you eliminate the Chromium 6 in the water:
Crown Berkey Water Filter-6 Gallons

One of our products is the Crown Berkey Water Filter. The lab test results show that it can remove up to 99.85% of Chromium 6 in the water. As such, one is assured that he can have clean water for the whole family.
The Crown Berkey Water Filter can produce up to 6.5 gallons per hour under regular use. Six to twelve people can use the product regularly and every day. It can accommodate up to 300 to 625 people daily during emergencies.
Moreover, the Crown Berkey comes with two Black Berkey Elements. However, you can upgrade it to 4, 6, or 8 anytime.
As to its specifications, the product has 6 gallons of water capacity. It has a diameter of 11 inches and a height of 31 inches.
Grab yours now here!
Berkey Light Water Filter

Grab the Berkey Light Water Filter now for a lighter version of the Berkey products. This one has a flow rate of 4 gallons in the first hour at regular usage. It can accommodate 1 to 5 people at normal use. But during emergencies, it can serve up to 200 people each day.
The Berkey Light Water filter can remove up to 99.85% of the Chromium 6. Furthermore, it is made of non-BPA or BPS co-polyester.
As to its specifications, the Berkey Light Water Filter has a filter capacity of 4 Black Berkey and 4 fluoride filters.
Grab yours now here!
The Dangers of Chromium 6 Towards Human Health
The United States Department of Labor shared a public article that discusses the health troubles exposure to Chromium 6 can cause. In addition, they were also able to briefly summarize certain health conditions that a person could acquire upon exposure to chromium 6.
"Adverse health effects associated with Cr(VI) exposure include occupational asthma, eye irritation and damage, perforated eardrums, respiratory irritation, kidney damage, liver damage, pulmonary congestion and edema, upper abdominal pain, nose irritation and damage, respiratory cancer, skin irritation, and erosion and discoloration of the teeth. Some workers can also develop an allergic skin reaction called allergic contact dermatitis. This occurs from handling liquids or solids containing Cr(VI), such as Portland cement. Allergic contact dermatitis is long-lasting and more severe with repeated skin exposure. Furthermore, contact with non-intact skin can lead to skin ulceration, sometimes called chrome ulcers. Chrome ulcers are crusted, painless lesions showing a pitted ulcer covered with fluid." (www.osha.gov)
Further research and studies are continuously being conducted to determine the specific health risks that Chromium 6 can bring upon ingestion through drinking water.
For now, Chromium 6 is identified as a human carcinogen, which means it promotes cancer formation. This is because carcinogens can damage genomes and disrupt the body's cellular metabolic process. Many natural carcinogens have already been identified, and Chromium 6 is categorized under one of them.
Health authorities are still questionable about the health problems that Chromium 6 might cause a human. They are not yet certain of the exact level of Chromium 6 that causes health risks or troubles to people.
On the other hand, what they have yet to find out is that when they mixed a certain level of Chromium 6 in the drinking water of rats and mice, they, unfortunately, developed cancer over time.
Regardless of the uncertainty when it comes to the potential health risks that Chromium 6 can pose, scientists who continue to study and seek further data when it comes to Chromium 6 in drinking water, for some reason, are concerned even with just the low levels of Chromium 6 found in drinking water.
Particularly on the infants, kids, or even a developing fetus that can be exposed to such contaminants.
Nonetheless, the presence of Chromium 6 in our drinking water is still a topmost concern to almost all communities. There may not be any particular names of health problems that are directly caused by the contamination of Chromium 6 yet.
However, there are symptoms of minor pains and discomfort that can be acquired upon ingesting the Chromium 6. Furthermore, such symptoms are said to increase in severity when consumed over a long period.
Fortunately, the brighter side of all this is that Chromium 6 contamination takes longer before it harms human health.
Chromium 6 in California, 2016
The different communities of California reported their concern about the presence of Chromium 6 in their drinking water. The issue has affected several areas of the state, affecting hundreds and thousands of people. For example, residents in Rio Linda, California, were affected greatly by the contamination of this Chromium 6.
It has also been reported that due to the severe contamination of this Chromium 6, several local wells had to be abandoned because they were already unusable due to the Chromium 6 taking over their waters.
It is alarming that even though this is the place known to be firm and strict regarding its regulatory limits pertaining to Chromium 6, the contaminant somehow still seemed to manage its way through the California waters.
As of 2016, California is the only state able to enforce a maximum contaminant level for the Chromium 6. Approximately seven million Americans are said to be receiving tap water containing higher levels of Chromium 6, which is considered dangerous.
However, there was no trace of the origin as to where the Chromium 6 was able to make its way to their waters. The only potential reason they could identify the case was the McClellan Air Force base.
Residents stated that they use the base as their location to proceed with their aircraft chrome plating operations. Hence, the source may have been the increased volume of Chromium 6, which heavily affected their water.
North Carolina residents also expressed concerns and complained about the Chromium 6 contamination of their waters. The population most affected by this were those near power plants that utilize coal for their operations.
Bill Walker once stated that we could never be too concerned with only one contaminant in our water. The real problem is that in this generation, our water is contaminated with hundreds of things, and having hundreds of those contaminants is more dangerous than having only one contaminant in our water.
Why Take Care of Your Water?

Water is, without a doubt, a necessity a person could have. It is the powering fuel that our body needs to function properly and efficiently. The average human body is barely composed of 60 percent water.
Not to mention that every organ, bone, and skin is individually composed of water. It is clear enough to assume that our body runs on water in that alone.
Without water or little access, your body might be dehydrated, which is not a good sign. Dehydration can seriously affect a person's overall performance.
Not only that, but it also branches out additional sicknesses such as high blood pressure, skin diseases, kidney troubles, and many more, all because of dehydration or an inadequate amount of water.
Considering all of these, water must be clean and safe for a person to consume. We can not only rely on the fact that water alone can aid us in achieving good health and reaching our optimum potential. But clean water is the key to attaining all of these.
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