Passive Sampling Workshop

November 2009 - NLS hosts successful Passive Sampling workshop

On the 24 November 2009 the NLS Centre for Analytical Research & Development (CARD), successfully hosted a Passive Sampling workshop at its Llanelli laboratory. The aim of which was to explore the benefits of this technique over traditional "spot" or "grab" sampling and to discuss findings from the very latest deployments of Passive Samplers.

The workshop was attended by representatives from CARD and the wider NLS, Atkins, NIVA (Norwegian Institute for Water Research), NIEA (Northern Ireland Environment Agency) and the Environment Agency of England & Wales.

The findings of the workshop are summarised below and links are provided to the presentations given on the day by three keynote speakers: Ian Allan (NIVA), Ray Thomas (NIEA) and Anthony Gravell (NLS).

Summary of Workshop Conclusions

Traditional Grab Sampling has clear limitations

• - The information collected by grab sampling spans only the length of time that it takes to fill the sample bottle - no more than a few seconds
• - Water samples can be unreliable because they only detect the pollutant if it is in the water column at that particular moment
• - Both diffuse and point source pollution events may not be captured - Spot / Grab sampling is statistically unlikely to provide an estimate of the maximum diffuse pollution burden. Ordinarily this would require intensive sampling
• - Deployment of a Passive Sampling Device (PSD) is not as time consuming in comparison to an intensive spot sampling programme
• - In the eyes of stakeholders e.g. local residents who have complained about pollution in a river, PSDs can represent a very visible presence that demonstrates monitoring in action

Passive Sampling is applicable to a wide range of contaminants

• - Passive sampling based analyses can be multi-residue
• - Analysis of a number of different determinand suites can be obtained from the deployment of a single sampler
• - Examples of compounds currently analysed on samples collected by Passive Samplers: Nonpolar organics (e.g. PAHs, PCBs or PBDEs), Polar organics (e.g. pharmaceuticals), Metals (e.g. Cd, Pb, Ni and Zn), Metalloids (e.g. As) and phosphate, Radionuclides and Organo-metallics (e.g. TBT, DBT or MBT)

There are many advantages with the deployment of Passive Sampling

• - There is now clear evidence of Passive Sampling having many advantages over standard or commonly used grab sampling techniques
• - It can provide reliable data that cannot be realistically obtained by other means - some excellent examples of this in Northern Ireland (see presentation link below)

The next steps for Passive Sampling

• - There is a need to tackle all significant sources of variability
• - There is also a need to harmonise procedures and protocols that surround the design and deployment of PSDs
• - There are now many possibilities for further collaboration and specifically in the areas of:
  - R&D to extend the range of analyses that can be associated with Passive Sampling
  - Defining best practice for sampler preparation
  - Defining routine procedures in the lab and in the field

Keynote speaker presentations

Ian Allan (NIVA) Personal experiences and history of PSD development: Download presentation here

Ray Thomas (NIEA) PSDs - The customer's perspective: Download presentation here

Anthony Gravell (NLS) Application of PSDs - Where are we now: Download presentation here

To learn more about Passive Sampling and how the NLS can support you in this regard, please contact NLS Customer Service via the online contact form or on 0113 231 2177.