Heterogeneous (gas-solid) chemistry of atmospheric Cr: A case study of Astana, Kazakhstan

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.