In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act that monitored chemicals in the water. Chromium is one of those chemicals. Water systems across the country monitor for chromium because it has been proven to have adverse affects on health. Short term effects of chromium include skin irritation, according to health officials. The long term effects include damage to liver, kidney tissue and damage to nerve tissues. Some health officials believe that chromium can be linked to respiratory cancers and other cancers. Residents of Kings County, California successfully sued Pacific Gas and Electric Company in 1996 after high levels of chromium were found in the water supply. The high level chromium levels were attributed to some cancers and illnesses. That case was won and Pacific Gas and Electric was ordered to pay $333 million in damages to the families. The case was the subject of the 2000 movie "Erin Brokovich."