Publication Abstract

Comparison of POCIS and SPMD passive samplers deployed in the Clyde estuary, UK

J Balaam*, J Barber*, H Rumney*, S White*

Passive samplers are increasingly becoming the sampling method of choice for studying freely dissolved concentrations in the water column. Passive samplers can be deployed for several weeks and deliver a time-weighted average concentration of contaminants from a relatively large ‘volume’ of water sampled. Several passive samplers have been investigated, and each has their strengths. POCIS are generally employed for the sampling of relatively polar compounds (log Kow <4). SPMD are used for less polar compounds (log Kow 3.5-7) and have the advantage that performance reference compounds can be added in order to simulate the uptake of contaminants and therefore actual water concentrations can be calculated. POCIS and SPMD passive samplers were deployed in the Clyde estuary in 2008 alongside silicon rubber and mussels involved in another study.
Samplers were extracted and subjected to a number of analyses. In-vitro assays were carried out on the extracts to determine whether one sampler was more effective at picking up compounds that were active to a number of toxicity syndromes. The extracts were analysed for PAHs and PCBs in order to compare them to silicon rubber samplers and mussels deployed by colleagues from scotland’s fisheries research services (FRS). Where toxicity in a particular assay was observed, a limited EDA study was carried out in order to identify compounds of interest. This was done using chemical fractionation and analysis by GC-MS.

Reference

J Balaam*, J Barber*, H Rumney*, S White* (2009) Comparison of POCIS and SPMD passive samplers deployed in the Clyde estuary, UK. SETAC Goteborg