On December 22, 2010, The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Commissioner announced several actions the EPA will undertake to review the prevalence and impact of hexavalent chromium, or chromium-6, in public water supplies. In January, the agency “issued guidance recommending how public water systems might enhance monitoring and sampling programs” of chromium-61.
The December EPA announcement and subsequent guidelines was made following a study by the Environmental Working Group citing presence of the chemical in 31 of 35 cities they tested, as well as a host of other harmful industrial chemicals and even pharmaceutical drugs.2 In response to the study, the EPA has agreed to “offer technical expertise and assistance to communities cited in the recent Environmental Working Group study with the highest levels of chromium.”3
“Many people may not be aware of the possibility that there could be contaminants in the water they use for drinking, cooking, bathing and cleaning,” said Victor Zaldivar, Business Leader of 3M Clean Water Solutions. “By filtering the water in our homes, we can reduce our potential exposure to certain contaminants and provide cleaner, clearer water for our families.”
The 3MTM Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration System is NSF-Certified for the reduction of chromium-6. The reverse osmosis membrane is capable of reducing contaminants at the molecular level and is effective at reducing ionic molecules including chromium.
3M Purification Inc. has been a leader in fluid filtration systems since the 1940s. The 3M Clean Water Solutions drinking water portfolio includes four systems NSF-certified for the reduction of a variety of contaminants. Reduction claims range from chlorine taste and odor to more potentially harmful contaminants such as lead and chromium-6.
NSF certification is an important designation when searching for a water filtration solution. As an international leader in independent certification, NSF only certifies products whose claims pass NSF’s rigorous testing standards.
“We believe everyone deserves access to cleaner water in their lives, and we work each and every day to make that possible,” said Zaldivar. “We encourage individuals to learn more about their water and to make informed choices for their families.”
For more information on the chromium-6 risks, please visit:
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) page on chromium
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) chromium FAQs
To learn more about 3M water filtration products, or to purchase the 3MTM Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Filtration System, visit www.3MWater.com or call 855-3M-WATER.
About 3M
3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products. Our culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $27 billion in sales, 3M employs about 80,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 65 countries. For more information, visit www.3M.com or follow @3MNews on Twitter.
2 EWG http://static.ewg.org/reports/2010/chrome6/html/home.html
CerconeBrownCompanyJamie Kaseta, 617-379-5248jkaseta@cerconebrown.comor3M Public RelationsConnie Thompson, 651-733-8914http://www.3M.com/PressContact
