Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of Cr(VI) during ferrochrome production

The level of the generation of hexavalent chromium during ferrochrome production was checked. The concentration of Cr(VI) increases with each stage of ferrochrome production, 7070 μg g −1 being the highest concentration encountered in the last stage of production (dust). This concentration exceeds the maximum acceptable total Cr concentration per 8 h by a factor of more than 1000. It was further observed that there is a higher contamination of soil by this pollutant closer to the plant than further away. The highest concentrations of Cr(VI) in soil and grass were found to be 12.7 and 4.2 μg g −1, respectively. The results of the investigation indicate that the consumption of such grass by animals do not pose any health hazard, for concentrations of the toxic Cr species are very low. Therefore, the release of emissions, including dust, during ferrochrome production, is a major contributor to occupational diseases and death to people working in ferrochrome production plant or mine.