Does My Water Filter Remove Chromium 6
Chromium 6 is a harmful element that can lead to problems like cancer, respiratory conditions, ulcers, and others. A water filter can help you eliminate it so that you can drink water without any concerns. However, not every filter can remove chromium 6. You need to search before purchasing a filter to make the right decision.
If you want to learn further about chromium 6 and which filter system will be best for you, then read this article further.
What is Chromium 6?
This element is also known as the Hexavalent Chromium and belongs to the periodic table. Chromium 6 doesn’t have any distinct taste or smell. Not to mention, it also naturally develops in different things like ores, soils, volcanic dust, rocks, and even in animals, plants, and humans.
You also need to know that there are several kinds of chromium. However, the most common and identifiable forms include trivalent Chromium, the metal form of chromium, and hexavalent chromium. Chromium 6 is the most toxic and commonly found element of them all. This compound can affect the quality of your water, making it unsafe for consumption. Not to mention, consuming it can lead to several health conditions.
Generally, manufacturers produce Chromium 6 with the help of different industrial processes. This component is useful to produce chrome plates. Chromium 6 is also essential in the manufacturing of stainless steel and plays a vital role in leather tanning, textile pigments and dyes, and wood preservation. Experts also believe that Chromium 6 is an ideal compound to use as conversion coatings and for anti-corrosion usage.
What Level of Chromium 6 is Safe?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not suggested any specific safe amount of Chromium 6 in water. Until now, the EPA has only given the standard amount of Chromium 3 in drinking water. According to them, the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for chromium should not be more than 0.10 ppb.
Besides that, California has advised the MCL of chromium 6 should be around 0.1 ppb. In short, there is no proper research that can help them indicate a specific safe quantity of chromium 6 in water. But they are sure that having a large amount of chromium in drinking water is not safe for the human body.
How to Test for Chromium 6?
So, how do you know that the water in your house’s pipes contains chromium 6? The best way to test its presence is to use a mass spectrometer, which can indicate the concentration of Chromium 6 in your water.
The drawback of a mass spectrometer is that it requires expensive equipment and complicated procedures. Furthermore, its procedure requires combining chromium 6 with some other elements such as sodium hydroxide and sodium chloride to create a solution. After that, you need to evaporate the solution under the vacuum. Later, you need to analyze chromium 6 when a product drops in the mass spectrometer.
This procedure is complicated and time-consuming besides being an expensive method. Also, you can’t perform this procedure in your house, as you will need to purchase many types of equipment to treat your tap water. Unfortunately, there is no prevention method that you can practice in your house to determine chromium 6’s presence in your water.
There are some testing steps available in the market that can help you in this case. Or, if you want more precise and accurate results, it is best to consult professionals who can guide you to find the solutions to this problem.
Use Water Filter to Remove Chromium-6 from Water
Once you know that your water contains Chromium 6, you need to install a water filter in your house to get safe and clean water. The best way to get chromium-free water is to install either a reverse osmosis filtration system or a soft water filtration system. Both of these filter systems offer you the benefits of filtered water, such as removing heavy metals, providing odorless water, and reducing acid reflux. Along with these advantages, you can also get rid of chromium 6 without installing another system for your house.
It is important to note that you need a water filter that can deliver contaminant-free water to your entire house. If you have installed a filtration system to get clean water in your kitchen, but you are still using water with chromium 6 content, you can face adverse effects. This is why make sure to install the right filtration system that can provide safe water for your entire house.
Does My Water Filter Remove Chromium 6?
It totally depends on the filtration system you have installed in your house. High-quality water filters can remove chromium 6 to offer you toxic-free water. But for that, you need to ask your chosen company whether their filtration system is effective against this compound. This will help you to know if you need to replace your water filter.
As we have already mentioned, the reverse osmosis filtration system is ideal for you. So, if you have not installed any filter yet, opt for this system. It even helps you remove fluoride present in water that is hard to eliminate in other types of filtration systems. But they are expensive than other options. If you have a low budget, then purchase a good quality water filter for your house.
You can read about our other popular reviews on Culligan, Kinetico, Rayne Water, and waterboss.
Bottom Line
In a nutshell, chromium 6 is a kind of harmful compound that you can find in drinking water. Since it is not good for your health, you need to consider the methods to remove it. But first, make sure to check the level of chromium 6 in your water. For this, you need to take the sample of water to the laboratory or ask a professional to check the water. Once you know that your drinking water contains chromium 6, you need to install a premium quality water filter. Lastly, make sure to ask the manufacturer whether the filter system is helpful to fight against chromium 6 or not to make the right decision.
