An analytical procedure for determining chromium in samples of airborne dust.

A method is described for assessing occupational exposures to chromium aerosols; it involves four procedures. The first, proton induced X-ray emission (PIXE), measures the total chromium. The second, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA), measures the oxidation state of the particle surfaces, and the third, which uses sym-diphenylcarbazide (DPQ, measures the proportion of water-soluble chromium VI. The fourth, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), provides information about, the size and shape of the particles and guides the interpretation of the ESCA-data. The multielemental nature of PIXE-analysis is advantageous in eliminating the possibility of interference in the DPC-method and in eliminating chromium compounds from the tentative list of existing health hazards in the smoke. These methods were applied to the analysis of samples of fume produced in welding, and information was obtained for the amounts of soluble and insoluble chromium (III and VI) in samples of different aerosols.