Solid phase distribution of chromium in industrially contaminated urban soil, Glasgow

Like many cities throughout the UK, Glasgow has a long history of both urbanisation and industrialisation, resulting in elevated concentrations of potentially harmful elements. Between 1830 and 1968 Glasgow was home to one of the world’s largest producers of chromium-based chemicals. Chromite ore processing residue (COPR) arising from the factory was used as infill material across large areas of SE Glasgow, resulting in widespread land contamination with Cr(VI), a known carcinogen of significant mobility1,2. A recent survey by the British Geological Survey (BGS) of the Glasgow urban environment has highlighted numerous sites with chromium concentrations exceeding guideline values generated by the Contaminated Land Exposure Assessment (CLEA) model