Passive Samplers: Membrane Devices as Exposure Surrogates

Knowledge of the types and amounts of biologically available trace contaminants in the environment is a fundamental part of assessing the overall quality of ecosystems and critical habitats. Unfortunately, this key information is often unavailable because of the transient nature of chemical spills, pesticide applications, and effluent discharges, and the limited ability to detect very low levels of environmental contaminants. USGS researchers have developed a suite of passive samplers to use in these situations. Examples of such technologies include semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs), polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS), stabilized liquid membrane devices (SLMDs).

Information from USGS biology research about passive samplers and their use for monitoring:

• Columbia Environmental Research Center's Integrative Passive Samplers (CERC)
  • SPMD  semipermeable membrane device
    The Virtual Fish:  SPMD Basics
    
    
  • POCIS  Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler 
    Download POCIS info sheet (PDF), plus a slide show
    
    
  • PIMS  Passive Integrative Mercury Sampler  (PIMS info sheet)
    
    
  • SLMD  Stabilized Liquid Membrane Device  (SLMD info sheet)
    
    
• Estrogenic Activity Levels in Chemicals Sequestered by Passive Samplers from Lake Mead, NV (PWRC) (Also related to Toxicology: Aquatic Toxicity Information)
  
  
• Investigation of Organic Chemicals Potentially Responsible for Mortality and Intersex in Fish of the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, Virginia, during Spring of 2007
  
  
• Monitors of Organic Chemicals in the Environment (CERC)
  
  
• Ozark Cavefish: Monitoring Their Water Quality (PWRC)
  
  
• Potential Endocrine Disruptors in the Potomac River Watershed Using Passive Samplers (PWRC) (Also related to Toxicology: Endocrine Disruption)

	Seventh Passive Sampling Workshop and Symposium, April 24-26, 2007, Reston, VA