Leaked documents seen by the Guardian suggest a source of drinking water close to a $1bn (£800m) mining project owned by the Indonesia-based Harita Group on remote Obi Island, was contaminated with unsafe levels of hexavalent chromium (Cr6), the cancer-causing chemical more widely known for its role in the Erin Brockovich story and film.

Cr6 can cause liver damage, reproductive problems and developmental harm when ingested or inhaled. Long-term exposure through drinking water has also been linked to stomach cancer. Evidence has shown that Cr6 in drinking water can be a result of industrial processes.

  • sensiblepuffin@lemmy.funami.tech
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    2 days ago

    Don’t see what the point of mentioning Erin is here; it’s not like most people would remember it was hexavalent chromium.

    • HobbitFoot @thelemmy.club
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      2 days ago

      They mentioned her because people probably remember what the chemical did and major settlement from the pollution as to why this chemical release is so important.