Development of polar organic integrative samplers for analysis of pharmaceuticals in aquatic systems

Integrative passive sampling is a new approach developed for environmental monitoring. Nowadays, the evaluations of pollution level are obtained by important sampling campaigns using spot samplings that give a snapshot of the aquatic system contamination state. An alternative way is to achieve a time weighted average concentration using passive samplers. The use of polar organic chemical integrative sampling (POCIS) has been recently documented for the detection of pharmaceuticals in the environment (Alvarez, D.; Petty, J. D.; Huckins, J. N.; JonesLepp, T. L; Getting, D. T.; Goddard, J. P.; Manahan, S. E. Environ. ToxicoL Chem. 2004,23, 1640-1648 (ref 1). Jones-Lepp, T. L.; Alvarez, D.; Petty, J. D.; Huckins, J.Arch. Environ. ContanL Toxicol. 2004,47,427-739 (ref 2). Petty, J. D.; Huckins, J. N.; Alvarez, D.; Brumbaugh, W. G.; Cranor, W. L.; Gale, R. W.; Rastall, A. C.; Jones-Lepp, T. L; Leiker, T. J.; Rostad, C. E.; Furlong, E. T. Chemosphere 2004, 54, 695-705 (ref 3)). There is a need for laboratory data to extend the use of this type of tool to new compounds. The aim of this study was to determine the sampling rates (Rs; expressed as effective volumes of water extracted daily) of POCIS devices for 14 pharmaceuticals in several conditions of temperature, salinity, and analyte concentration. These values are influenced by significant changes in water temperature and salinity. Overall, POCIS Rs values were independent from aqueous concentrations. After laboratory experiments, an environmental field study has been performed, implementing POCIS devices in the Seine estuary (North Atlantic coast of France) and testing the qualitative and quantitative application of POCIS devices on the contaminated system. The suitability of the devices for monitoring multiple media under a wide range of environmental conditions has also been discussed. The uniformity or reproducibility of the sampling matrix and, on the other hand, the ability to detect compounds at low concentration levels below detection limits of discrete sampling have been highlighted.