Understanding chromium behaviour in COPR-impacted sediments in the Polmadie Burn, Glasgow.

From ~1830-1968, one of the world’s largest Cr chemical factories operated in Rutherglen, SE Glasgow, Scotland. During this time ~2.5 million tonnes of chromite ore processing residue (COPR) was produced and used mainly as landfill, leading to widespread contamination of nearby land, surface water and groundwater. Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is highly toxic and carcinogenic and is present in COPR at ~1% w/w. Although some of the contaminated sites have been remediated, Cr(VI) is still readily detected in burn-side soils, sediments and surface waters of the Polmadie Burn, which flows into the River Clyde, Glasgow. This project seeks to determine the biogeochemical and environmental factors that influence the preservation of Cr(VI), its transport and its bioaccessibility.