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 0.1M Na(2)CO(3) 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 8h 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.