Evaluation of passive samplers for the moni- toring of contaminants in sediment and water Monitoring of POPs and PCBs in international monitoring programmes Martin M. Larsen, Ian Allan, Kristoffer Næs, Elisabeth Nyberg, Katrin Hoydal TemaNord 2009:563 Evaluation of passive samplers for the monitoring of contaminants in sediment and water Monitoring of POPs and PCBs in international monitoring programmes TemaNord 2009:563 © Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen 2009 ISBN 978-92-893-1914-0 Print: Kailow Express ApS Copies: 80 CoverPhoto: Passive samplers at Frederik d. 7's island at Sisimiut, Greenland /Martin M. Larsen, NERI Printed on environmentally friendly paper This publication can be ordered on www.norden.org/order. Other Nordic publications are available at www.norden.org/publications Printed in Denmark Nordic Council of Ministers Nordic Council Store Strandstræde 18 Store Strandstræde 18 DK-1255 Copenhagen K DK-1255 Copenhagen K Phone (+45) 3396 0200 Phone (+45) 3396 0400 Fax (+45) 3396 0202 Fax (+45) 3311 1870 www.norden.org Author: Martin M. Larsen National Environmental Research Institute, Aarhus University Ian Allan Kristoffer Næs Norwegian Institute for Water Research, NIVA Elisabeth Nyberg Swedish Museum of Natural History, NRM Katrin Hoydal Environmental Agency, US Nordic co-operation Nordic cooperation is one of the world’s most extensive forms of regional collaboration, involving Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and three autonomous areas: the Faroe Islands, Green- land, and Åland. Nordic cooperation has firm traditions in politics, the economy, and culture. It plays an important role in European and international collaboration, and aims at creating a strong Nordic community in a strong Europe. Nordic cooperation seeks to safeguard Nordic and regional interests and principles in the global community. Common Nordic values help the region solidify its position as one of the world’s most innovative and competitive. Content Preface................................................................................................................................7 Summary ............................................................................................................................ 9 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 11 1.1 Background of the passive sampling trial survey ................................................. 11 1.2 Nordic participation in the PSTS.......................................................................... 13 1.3 Timeline of work in OSPAR for PSTS................................................................. 14 2. Passive samplers – theory and practice........................................................................ 15 2.1 Application of passive sampling to organic substances........................................ 17 2.2 Application of passive sampling to metals ........................................................... 18 2.3 Performance reference compounds....................................................................... 19 2.4 Calculation of free dissolved concentration.......................................................... 21 3. Sampling programme ................................................................................................... 25 3.1 Selection of stations.............................................................................................. 25 3.2 Sampling stations for PSTS.................................................................................. 25 3.3 Passive sampler handling ..................................................................................... 29 3.4 Extraction and analysis for biota and sediment .................................................... 30 4. Results .......................................................................................................................... 33 4.1 Reporting of the PSTS.......................................................................................... 33 4.2 Water phase results............................................................................................... 33 4.3 Results from measurements in sediment pore waters........................................... 37 4.4 Results from the work with mussel and sediments............................................... 39 4.5 Comparison of passive samplers and mussel/sediment samples.......................... 40 4.6 Nereis-Hinia-Nucoloma test of sediments............................................................ 42 4.7 PSTS intercalibration results ................................................................................ 43 4.8 Selected PSTS reference laboratory results.......................................................... 46 5. Discussion .................................................................................................................... 53 5.1 Status of PSTS within OSPAR/ICES ................................................................... 53 5.2 Experience with PSTS in the Nordic countries..................................................... 53 5.3 Experience with passive samplers in the Nordic countries................................... 54 5.4 Use of passive samplers in national monitoring ................................................... 55 6. Conclusions .................................................................................................................. 57 6.1 National Nordic monitoring ................................................................................. 57 6.2 OSPAR monitoring .............................................................................................. 57 6.3 EU WFD/Marine Strategy.................................................................................... 58 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... 59 References ........................................................................................................................ 61 Sammenfatning................................................................................................................. 65 Annexes............................................................................................................................ 67 Annex 1: Selected acronyms ...................................................................................... 67 Annex 2: Use of passive samplers in the Nordic countries......................................... 69 Annex 3: OSPAR and PSTS ...................................................................................... 71 Annex 4: Program for Passive Sampler møde på Søminestationen ved Holbæk (Danmark)....................................................................................................... 74 Annex 5: The participating institutions and examples of passive sampler experiences in the Nordic countries.................................................................................... 75 Bilag ................................................................................................................................. 81 Data sheets reported to PSTS (water 1–8, sediment 1–5)........................................... 81 Preface This project aimed to evaluate the potential usefulness of passive sampling devices for the monitoring of hydrophobic compounds and establish possi- ble connections to current sediment and mussel-watch monitoring pro- grammes as part of: national strategies, the Oslo-Paris convention (OSPAR for the North Sea), Helsinki convention (HELCOM for the Baltic Sea) and the upcoming monitoring in the European Union Water Framework Direc- tive (WFD) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. Passive sampling is a realistic alternative to commonly used bottle sampling monitoring tasks such as comparisons of trace contaminant levels with fixed environmental quality standards. Passive sampling therefore represents an attractive tool in support of river basin manage- ment plans for water districts. The strategy of this project was to sample fjords/areas where signifi- cant differences in levels of the persistent organic pollutants polychlori- nated biphenyls (PCB) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were ex- pected, based on a priori knowledge from existing monitoring pro- grammes and participants' knowledge and expertise. The basis of this project was a passive sampling trial survey suggested by two working groups of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), and sanctioned by OSPAR, to investigate passive samplers for hydrophobic compounds with the aim to validate the use of passive samplers in the water phase, and give the participants experience in the use of passive samplers for both water and sediment in order to secure transfer of knowledge on the use of passive samplers within the ICES community. 7 Summary Passive Sampler Trial Survey Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Norway and Sweden participated in the joint Oslo-Paris convention (OSPAR) and International Council for the Explo- ration of the Sea (ICES) passive sampler trial survey (PSTS) with funding from the Sea and Air Group (HLG) of the Nordic Council of Ministers. Passive samplers spiked with performance reference compounds were prepared at RIKZ. Two sets of passive samplers were deployed at the various sites for 2–3 months and after collection sent to RIKZ and NIVA for extraction and analysis. Use of passive samplers