Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of total and hexavalent chromium in atmospheric aerosols

A method was developed which allow separate determination of Cr(VI) and total Cr from the same minute sample of atmospheric aerosols. Cr(VI) was leached was with 0.1 M Na2CO3 and the total Cr concentrations were determined after acid digestion. The method was validated by the analysis of certified reference materials, CRM 545, Mess-3 and Pacs-2 with good agreement between certified and found values. Cr concentrations in air samples taken around the chromium smelter show concentrations that exceed the maximum allowed levels in 8 h with higher values closer to the smelter. The limit of detection (LOD) of the method for Cr(VI) determination in air samples was found to be 0.2 ng m−3, i.e. lower than offered by the commonly preferred spectrophotometric and colorimetric techniques.