Monitoring Organic Pollutants in Waters Using the Diffusive Gradients in the Thin Films Technique: Investigations on the Effects of Biofouling and Degradation.

Abstract

The diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) passive sampling technique has been increasingly used to provide time-weighted average concentrations of the biorelevant fraction of organic contaminants in waters, with high spatial and temporal resolutions at low cost. This study was tested for the effects of biofouling and compound degradation/loss during sample handling/storage on the DGT measurement of a range of emerging organic pollutants. Biofouling was tested using biofilms collected from the influent and effluent of a typical urban wastewater treatment plant. Most (85%) target compounds showed no detectable effect on the DGT measurement when 8- and 15-day biofouled membrane filters were used. Four storage methods were designed to test for within-sampler degradation/loss for up to 2 months. Intact samplers can be simply stored in polyethylene bags at ambient temperature (18-26 °C) with most compounds stable (mass loss <20%) for at least 1 week. Keeping intact samplers at 4 °C or binding gels in solvent gave good recoveries, with most chemicals being stable for up to 2 months, although the best results were obtained when binding gels were kept in solvent at 4 °C. Recommendations are made for sample handling and storage of DGT samplers used for determination of trace organics in monitoring and surveillance campaigns.