Chromium available fractions in arousa sediments using a modified microwave BCR protocol based on microwave assisted extraction

Chromium determinations in these extracts were carried out by Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (ETAAS). The developed method was applied for chromium determination in marine sediment samples from Ria de Arousa (Galicia, NW of Spain). The values obtained by our laboratory ranged from 0.10 to 1.02 μg g−1 for soluble and reducible fractions, and from 5.5 to 60.0 μg g−1 for the oxidisable fraction. The higher concentrations obtained were the chromium associated with the organic fraction of the marine sediments.