California water regulators have again strengthened the state’s existing drinking water maximum contaminant level (MCL) for hexavalent chromium (Cr6), lowering it from 50 parts per billion (ppb) to 10 ppb, after hearing clashing opposition from environmentalists and industry representatives.

Chemical industry groups, labor unions and a prominent public health group have filed separate petitions asking four different appellate courts to review EPA’s final TSCA risk management rule phasing out ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, setting up a high-stakes lottery to determine which court will ultimately hear the precedent-setting case.