Passive sampling for long-term monitoring of organic pollutants in water

Abstract

Commonly used monitoring systems usually record only pollutant concentrations at a specific point in time. Passive dosimetry, widely used to monitor air pollutants, can also be applied to monitor organic contaminants in water. Contrary to dynamic techniques, passive sampling is less sensitive to accidental extreme variations of the organic pollutant concentration in natural waters. A passive sampler can cover a long sampling period, integrating the pollutant concentration over time. Since only a few analyses are necessary over the monitoring period, analytical costs (usually connected with expensive dynamic sample isolation and preconcentration techniques) can be reduced substantially. Moreover, decomposition of the sample during transport and storage and/or changes during sample enrichment are also minimised. In this review, the present state of the art of passive water sampling for long-term monitoring of organic pollutants in water is discussed.