Heterogeneous (gas-solid) chemistry of atmospheric Cr: A case study of Astana, Kazakhstan
Adotey E.K. Balanay M.P. Shah D. Hopke P.K. Sabanov S. Amouei Torkmahalleh M.
1 March 2024Elsevier Ltd
Environmental Pollution
2024#344
Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a known carcinogen derived from both anthropogenic and natural sources. This work reports the size-segregated concentrations of total Cr(VI) in particulate matter (PM) in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, and provides new insights into the gas-solid reactions of atmospheric Cr. A study of total Cr(VI) in the particulate matter, via a microwave-assisted digestion technique, was conducted using a 5-stage Sioutas Cascade impactor that captures airborne particles in size ranges: >2.5 μm, 1.0–2.5 μm, 0.50–1.0 μm, 0.25–0.50 μm, and <0.25 μm. The total Cr(VI) concentration in the size fraction <0.25 μm was the highest with a maximum value of 9.7 ng/m3. This high concentration may pose a greater risk because smaller airborne particles can penetrate deeper into the lower respiratory tract of the lungs. Total suspended particles Cr(VI) exceeded the 8.0 ng/m3 Reference Concentration (RfC) by 22 times. The overall total Cr(VI) concentration in summer was significantly higher than in fall (p < 0.05), which could be due to factors, including higher temperatures, ozone, and NO2 concentrations in summer and a higher VOC concentration in fall. The results indicate that the interaction between Cr(III) and Cr(VI) through gas-solid reaction can control the speciation of atmospheric Cr.
Astana , Atmospheric chemistry , Chromium , PM , Total Cr(VI) , Ultrafine
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Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Chemistry, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, 14642, NY, United States
Department of Mining, School of Mining and Geosciences, Nazarbayev University, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, 60612, IL, United States
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
Department of Chemistry
Department of Public Health Sciences
Department of Mining
Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences
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