THE EXTRACTABILITY OF CR(VI) FROM CONTAMINATED SOIL IN SYNTHETIC SWEAT

Hexavalent chromium is a common skin irritant that can cause contact d ermatitis in sensitized individuals. Soil samples from two chromium wa ste sites having different Cr(VI) concentrations were extracted in syn thetic sweat solutions over a pH range of 4 to 8 and analyzed for Cr(V I). These extractions were performed to determine the potential availa bility of Cr(VI) from contaminated soils upon contact with human sweat . The samples were also extracted using the EPA Method 3060 alkaline d igestion. Overall, hexavalent chromium was readily extractable from bo th samples in the solutions tested. One of the samples contained Cr(VI ) crystals, known as blooms, and had a Cr(VI) concentration approximat ely 40 times greater than the sample without blooms. The pH of the syn thetic sweat solution had little effect on the Cr(VI) concentration de termined for the sample containing blooms, whereas the Cr(VI) concentr ation determined for the sample without blooms increased with increasi ng pH. The Cr(VI) extracted in the synthetic sweat solutions was consi stently lower than the amount extracted by the EPA 3060 alkaline extra ction.