Uptake Kinetics and Long-term Monitoring of Persistent Organic Pollutants Using SPMD and High Volume Water Sampler

Abstract

Passive sampling in environmental research is getting increasing attention as an alternative to expensive and more laborious active sampling. It can provide time-integrated samples for air and water. Uptake kinetics and characteristics of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in seawater was investigated using passive and active water sampling. Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) and high volume water sampler was deployed at a coastal station, Jangmok, Korea. Performance reference compounds including PCB14, PCB50, PCB188, and alpha-HCH-d6 were used to estimate the sampling rate of SPMD. Accumulation characteristics of POPs were monitored monthly basis by both sampling methods. In general, the POPs concentration in seawater tends to increase at high temperature season. Concentrations of POPs estimated by the SPMDs were comparable to those detected by active sampling. However, significant difference was observed in some volatile compounds such as HCHs, where active sampler accumulated relatively higher amount of the residues than SPMD. The isomer profiles of target compounds were similar between active and passive samples. The highest uptake rate of hydrophobic compounds by SPMDs was observed for analytes with log KOW between 5.0 and 6.5.