Luminescence for the Analysis of Organic Compounds in Natural Waters

Abstract

Many widely used synthetic chemicals, as well as industrial by-products, are continuously emitted into the environment. Even if present in low quantities, some of these substances or their degradation products represent a threat for the health of humans and wildlife. Sometimes they accumulate in living organisms and target organs (bioaccumulation) so that their concentrations increase along the food chain. Natural waters (rivers, lakes, seas, and ground waters) are among the most endangered environments, since in many cases these substances are directly released in them. Moreover, natural waters represent an important way by which pollutants travel along long distances. Molecules with low water solubility, i.e. with high lipophilicity (pesticides, aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives, surfactants, oestrogen-like compounds, etc.) could be present in the particulate matter of fresh and marine water. The analysis of organic compounds in natural waters is therefore of crucial importance in the monitoring of pollution and in risk assessing for humans and environment. This requires rapid and sensitive analytical procedures for the detection of organic pollutants that should be suitable for performing screening analysis of a large number of samples.