It stars Julia Roberts in the lead role as Erin Brockovich, a legal clerk who investigates into the elevated cluster of illnesses in the community at Hinkley, linked to hexavalent chromium contaminated water, caused by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). The tagline of the movie sums it up neatly – “She brought a small town to its feet and a huge corporation to its knees.”ĭirected by Steven Soderbergh, the film received 5 Academy Award nominations. The movie Erin Brockovich, based on a true story (dramatized version), was released in theatres on the summer of 2000. it’s an eye-opening journey into direct action class suits, chemical poisoning by pollutants, and a lesson on how a public spirited citizen can help the environment and the community. Take for example the highly acclaimed movie, Erin Brockovich. Actually, you can learn a lot from movies, not just on how to portray a role and to write a good screenplay, but also on topics as diverse as history, medicine, science and law. However, considering the reported results, in 2014, California became the first state in the country to set a drinking water limit for hexavalent chromium of 10 parts-per-billion (ppb), with a contaminant goal of 0.02 ppb.Īs the discussion around the regulation of chromium exposure continues, we will continue to play a role in providing scientific facts to support policy decisions.Those who have an earnest desire for learning can gain knowledge from any source, be it books, debates or even movies. In the years after the publication of that report, EPA concluded that a review of the previous drinking water limit for chromium was necessary, a process that is still under way. Test subjects dosed with hexavalent chromium exhibited oral cancer and cancer of the small intestine, which are not common cancers, and combined with our biodistribution results, suggested that the chromium was the cause of the cancer. Our data were included in the analysis of cancer occurrence, which found that hexavalent chromium is carcinogenic when consumed in drinking water. These robust, scientifically-defensible measurements helped the National Toxicology Program establish where in the body different forms of chromium in drinking water were taken up by our test subjects. We used our suite of specialized laboratory instruments and facilities and over 100 combined years of experience in bioanalysis to design and validate a comprehensive set of analyses for each type of sample. Our analytical laboratories helped the National Toxicology Program understand the distribution of hexavalent chromium from drinking water by measuring chromium in several tissues, including the kidney, liver, bones, blood, intestines, and others. Our laboratory experts provide support to the program for a range of services including formulation development, chemical procurement, and bioanalytical services. RTI has been a trusted partner of the National Toxicology program through its Chemistry Services Contract since 1984. These studies included in vivo models to understand both how much hexavalent chromium was taken up from drinking water and where it was distributed in the body.Ī 2016 study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) indicated that hexavalent chromium is more common in drinking water than was previously thought, estimating that as many as 218 million Americans could be served by water systems with detectable hexavalent chromium, either from manmade or natural sources. In 2001, following a series of highly-publicized exposure clusters (including the one depicted in the movie, Erin Brokovich), the National Toxicology Program received a nomination to study the potentially toxic effects of hexavalent chromium in drinking water. Investigating A Widespread Contaminant in Drinking Water Laboratory measurements of environmental and biological samples help to protect public health by increasing our understanding of chemical exposures. Environmental policies designed to minimize chemical exposure and protect public health are based on a range of information, including toxicity and how often and how much of a chemical can be found in the environment. Exposure to hazardous chemicals can impact human health and quality of life.
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