What is hexavalent chromium? Cancer-linked chemical found in Nashik groundwater at alarming levels

New Delhi: Groundwater in Maharashtra's Nashik has shown alarming levels of contamination, with laboratory tests detecting a cancer-linked chemical at more than 1,000 times the permissible drinking water limit, raising serious concerns over public health and the safety of the Godavari river ahead of the upcoming Kumbh Mela.

According to the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP), groundwater samples collected from Ambad in Nashik contained dangerously high concentrations of hexavalent chromium, a toxic substance associated with increased cancer risks.

The environmental network warned that contaminated water was also entering the Godavari through local drainage channels, potentially affecting stretches of the river that include ghats where millions of devotees are expected to gather for the Kumbh Mela.

In a statement issued on October 8, SANDRP said laboratory analysis revealed exceptionally high chromium concentrations in groundwater samples.

"The analysis reveals hexavalent chromium levels of 50.3 mg/L in the total chromium of 50.5 mg/L: surpassing the Bureau of Indian Standards drinking water allowable limit of 0.05 mg/L by over 1,000 times."

What is Hexavalent chromium?

Hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6, is a highly toxic form of chromium commonly associated with industrial activities such as electroplating, metal finishing, leather tanning and paint manufacturing. The chemical can contaminate groundwater through untreated industrial waste and pose serious health risks. Prolonged exposure may cause skin irritation, ulcers, kidney and liver damage, while certain forms of exposure, particularly inhalation, are linked to an increased risk of cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies hexavalent chromium compounds as carcinogenic to humans, primarily based on evidence of lung cancer from inhalation exposure.

The findings have raised concerns about possible industrial pollution originating from the Ambad Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area, which houses several manufacturing units.

According to SANDRP, electroplating, metal finishing, paint manufacturing and other industrial activities in the area could be potential sources of the contamination.

However, the precise source of the chemical pollution has not yet been established.

The environmental group claimed that residents of Ambad have been forced to depend on contaminated groundwater because of inadequate and irregular water supply from the Nashik Municipal Corporation.

It said several residents, including women and children, had developed health problems such as chemical ulcers, skin rashes and blisters following exposure to the polluted water.

The organisation also reported more serious health concerns among people living in affected settlements.

"Young women and children had painful, swollen lymph nodes and chronic illnesses. Two women in the affected settlement report suffering spontaneous miscarriages. The number can be higher. The link has to be assessed," the statement said.

While the reported health problems have raised concerns about prolonged exposure to contaminated water, a direct medical link between the chemical pollution and individual illnesses, including the reported miscarriages, has not been established.

SANDRP also questioned the response of pollution control authorities, alleging that repeated complaints from affected residents had failed to prompt adequate regulatory intervention.

The organisation described the official response as "inadequate" despite concerns being raised on several occasions.

"The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) issued a routine show-cause notice to only a single company on September 30, 2026, after media reports of yellow water emerged," the network added.

According to SANDRP, the pollution control board had neither publicly released its water testing results nor informed residents about the findings.

The organisation alleged that the failure to disclose the information was "leaving the community in the dark about a lethal chemical hazard".

The reported contamination has also raised concerns about the Godavari river, particularly as Nashik prepares to host the Kumbh Mela, which is expected to attract large numbers of pilgrims.

SANDRP warned that contaminated water entering the river through local drains could pose a potential health risk to devotees visiting the bathing ghats.

The network's findings have brought renewed attention to industrial wastewater management, groundwater safety and the need for greater transparency in pollution monitoring in the Nashik region.

The extent of contamination in the Godavari itself and the potential exposure risks at the Kumbh Mela bathing ghats require further testing and assessment.