Near-surface distribution of pollutants in coastal waters as assessed by novel polyethylene passive samplers.
We report a novel and inexpensive method to provide high resolution vertical measurements of temporally integrated organic contaminants in surface and sub-surface waters in polluted coastal environments. It employs a strip of polyethylene deployed as a passive sampler. Verifications are confirmed via conventional spot sample analyses and against Performance Reference Compound (PRC) calibration methods. Analytes targeted include 16 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, 15 personal care products, 8 organophosphorus flame retardants, 4 antifouling 'booster' biocides and 15 n-alkanes. Whilst all contaminants typically revealed homogeneous concentrations from 10 cm to 3 m depth in the selected harbour (<30% variations), many increased sharply at the air-sea interface. The passive sampler was shown to afford better resolution than could be achieved using conventional analytical techniques at the surface microlayer (SML). Whilst hydrophobicity appeared to be a key factor for the enrichment of many determinants, less correlation was found for the emerging contaminants.
Biogeochemistry Research Centre, Plymouth University, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom. Electronic address: yann.aminot@plymouth.ac.uk.
Yann
Y
Aminot
IMT Lille Douai, Univ. Lille, EA 4515 - LGCgE - Civil & Environmental Engineering Department, F-59000 Lille, France.
Angel
A
Belles
IMT Lille Douai, Univ. Lille, EA 4515 - LGCgE - Civil & Environmental Engineering Department, F-59000 Lille, France.
Claire
C
Alary
Biogeochemistry Research Centre, Plymouth University, Plymouth PL4 8AA, United Kingdom; Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, The Hoe, Plymouth PL1 3DH, United Kingdom.
James W
JW
Readman
D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D020959:Polyethylene; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D020959:Polyethylene
Passive sampling; Priority and emerging contaminants; Sea surface microlayer; Surface enrichment