Field Validation of an IC/Visible Spectrophotometry Method for the Determination of Cr(VI) in Mist

미스트중 6가 크롬 측정을 위한 IC/Visible Spectrophotometry 방법 (Shin & Paik′s Method)의 현장 평가

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a new sampling and analytical method for the determination of hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI) in mist from field plating operation. The Procedures of this new method (Shin & Paik's Method) are as the following: Airborne hexavalent chromium is collected on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) filter according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Method 7600, and the filter sample is placed in a screw-capped vial and soaked with 2％ NaOH/3％ Na₂CO₃ solution immediately after sampling. The Cr(VI) sample is analyzed by ion chromatography/visible spectrophotometry (IC/VS) according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 218.6. The airborne Cr(VI) concentrations measured by this method were compared with those determined by three reference methods: One (NIOSH/EPA Method) consisted of sampling airborne Cr(VI) on PVC filters and storing the sample filters in screw-capped vials according to the NIOSH method, and analyzing Cr(VI) in samples using IC/VS according to the EPA method. The second method (Impinger Method/NaHCO₃) consisted of absorbing airborne Cr(VI) into 0.02 MN/sub a/Hco₃ solution in midget impinger, and analyzing the Cr(VI) in samples using IC/VS. The third method was the OSHA Method Id-215. Using these four different methods, four replicates of air samples were collected at an electroplating process and analyzed simultaneously. Two-way ANOVA and Paired t-test were used to test difference among values determined by the methods. There was no significant difference and a strong correlation (r/sup 2/=0.99) between Cr(VI) concentrations measured by the shin & Paik's Method and an impinger method (p＞0.05). However, Cr(VI) concentrations determined by Shin & Paik's Method were Significantly different form those by the NIOSH/EPA Method (p＜0.05) or the OSHA method (p＜0.05). The Cr(VI) concentrations of Shin & Paik's Method were Significantly higher than those of the NIOSH/EPA Method or the OSHA method. We concluded that the Shin & Paik's Method could prevent Cr(VI) losses caused by reduction and give more reliable results of airborne Cr(VI) concentrations in work environments.