Challenges Associated with Generating Reliable Nanogram‐per‐Liter Measurements of Hexavalent Chromium in Groundwater

The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and several states are considering regulatory limits for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) <100 ng/L, increasing the importance of obtaining accurate and reliable data. The present study presents the results of 2 studies investigating the effectiveness of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEnvironmental toxicology and chemistry Vol. 39; no. 8; pp. 1526 - 1533
Main Authors Felix, Allison, Gable, Jennifer, Vitale, Rock, Gratson, David, Carriker, Neil
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2020
Subjects
chemistry
Chromium
Chromium - analysis
Contamination
Cr(VI)
ecotoxicology
Environmental protection
Groundwater
Groundwater - chemistry
Hexavalent chromium
ng/L
Performance tests
Preservation
Quality Control
Regulatory
United States
United States Environmental Protection Agency
US Environmental Protection Agency
Water analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water sampling
United States
Hexavalent chromium
Regulatory
Cr(VI)
Preservation
ng/L
US Environmental Protection Agency
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Summary:The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and several states are considering regulatory limits for hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) <100 ng/L, increasing the importance of obtaining accurate and reliable data. The present study presents the results of 2 studies investigating the effectiveness of chemical preservation on ng/L concentrations of Cr(VI) in groundwater. Chemically preserved and unpreserved aliquots of a groundwater sample were spiked with a known amount of Cr(VI), and then analyzed in tandem with sets of preserved and unpreserved performance test samples over 28 d. The studies showed that although Cr(VI) appears to be relatively stable over 28 d, it may be sensitive to minor matrix changes after collection. The studies also demonstrated significant challenges to measuring Cr(VI) below 100 ng/L, because the results can be subject to positive bias or contamination that may not be readily apparent. We conclude that Cr(VI) measurements using a USEPA published method below 100 ng/L may be categorized as semiquantitative at best. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1526–1533. © 2020 SETAC
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ISSN:0730-7268
1552-8618
1552-8618
DOI:10.1002/etc.4752