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PENTAGON CURBS USE OF HEXAVALENT CHROMIUM --
Escalating health concerns prompt virtual ban of
chemical, often called sodium dichromate.
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by Larry Scott, VA Watchdog
dot Org
Over the past year we have
learned of soldiers serving in Iraq being exposed to hexavalent chromium
(sodium dichromate).
Guard units from Oregon,
Indiana and West Virginia were exposed in 2003 while guarding the Qarmat
Ali Water treatment plant operated by private contractor KBR.
Complete details on this, plus
information on other toxin exposures, can be found on our
Iraq War Toxins page.
You may remember that Erin
Brockovich was thrust onto the world stage when she fought the corporation
that had dumped hexavalent chromium into the ground water in Hinkley,
California.
Hexavalent chromium is a
known carcinogen.
The Pentagon refers to
hexavalent chromium as an "emerging contaminant" ... and as such comes
under the control of the
Emerging Contaminant Directorate.
From the Directorate's web
page we find:
Why is DoD's
Emerging Contaminant Directorate focusing on hexavalent chromium?
The evolving
regulatory climate for hexavalent chromium may affect
environment, safety, and occupational health
(ESOH) requirements and
 may
restrict future use and/or availability of the material.
The Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) was recently lowered by the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). European
environmental regulations have severely restricted and effectively
banned the use of hexavalent chromium on vehicles and electrical
equipment. Additional restrictions are anticipated. Many automobile,
military parts and electronics manufacturers are adopting European or
other stringent standards for all of their products. Diminished
availability of products with hexavalent chromium may interrupt supply
chains. Reduced sources for hexavalent chromium parts may increase the
costs of those products due to a lack of competition in the market
place.
The functions performed by hexavalent chromium are critical to DoD's
weapons systems, platforms, and operations. Thus, we must have parallel
efforts to both protect our workers using hexavalent chromium and find
safer, equally effective alternatives.
Now, we have a memo dated
April 8, 2009, from
John J. Young, Jr., Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition,
Technology and Logistics.
The memo is titled
Minimizing the Use of Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+) and was
sent to all Secretaries of the Military Departments.
Pentagon departments and
defense contractors are being ordered to find a replacement for hexavalent
chromium.
This memo is unique because of
wording like "serious human health and environmental risks" and "this is
an extraordinary situation." Read more below:
click for more information -- a disabled veteran
owned business
| MEMORANDUM FOR SECRETARIES OF THE
MILITARY DEPARTMENTS
SUBJECT: Minimizing the Use of Hexavalent Chromium (Cr6+)
Cr6+ is a significant
chemical in numerous Department of Defense (DoD) weapons systems and
platforms due to its corrosion protection properties.
However, due to the serious human
health and environmental risks related to its use, national and
international restrictions and controls are increasing.
These restrictions will continue
to increase the regulatory burdens and life cycle costs for DoD and
decrease materiel availability.
OSD, DoD Components, and industry
have made substantial investments in finding suitable replacements
for Cr6+ for many of the current DoD applications.
In particular, a number of
defense-related industries are minimizing or eliminating the use of
Cr6+ where proven substitutes are available that provide
acceptable performance for the application.
This is an extraordinary situation
that requires DoD to go beyond established hazardous materials
management processes.
To more aggressively mitigate the
unique risks to DoD operations now posed by Cr6+, I
direct the DoD Military Departments to take the following actions:
TO READ THE COMPLETE MEMO ...
VIEW OR DOWNLOAD
HERE |
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posted by Larry Scott
Founder and Editor
VA Watchdog dot Org
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