Passive Sampling

Our primary focus is on the development of innovative methodologies for passive sampler design and complex mixture analysis of various environmental matrices. Research is conducted on emerging and historic contaminants; assessment of the exposure of aquatic and terrestrial organisms and humans to anthropogenic chemicals; and identification of chemicals and their potential sources. The link between chemical occurrence and biological effects are investigated using passive samplers as surrogate biological organisms and screening sampler extracts with in vitro and in vivo tests for estrogenicity, acute toxicity, reproductive and developmental abnormalities. The research is designed to expand the understanding of the roles of physicochemical parameters and environmental factors on the uptake mechanisms of passive samplers. The CERC Passive Sampling section is an international leader in the field of passive sampling technologies.

SPMD Water Concentration Estimators (These are Microsoft Excel spreadsheet files.)    NOTE: Use version 5 of the SPMD Water Concentration Estimator if performance reference compounds (PRCs) were used in your study. If PRCs were not used, you must use version 4. Please contact David Alvarez (dalvarez@usgs.gov) or 573-441-2970, if you need assistance with these estimators.

                            version 5    version 4

    The Virtual Fish: SPMD Basics (old SPMD website)

Staff Members

Selected Publications

Reproductive Health of Bass in the Potomac Drainage: II
Assessment of organic contaminants in integrative samplers from Chesapeake Bay tributaries (91309)

Alvarez, D.A., Cranor, W.L., Huckins, J.N., Clark, R.C. and Perkins, S.D. 2004. Assessment of organic contaminants in integrative samplers from Chesapeake Bay tributaries. Final report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Annnapolis, MD.
Reproductive health of bass in the Potomac, USA, drainage: Part 2. Seasonal occurrence of persistent and emerging organic contaminants (91609)

Alvarez, D.A., Cranor, W.L., Perkins, S.D., Schroeder, V.L., Iwanowicz, L.R., Clark, R.C., Guy, C.P., Pinkney, A.E., Blazer, V.S. and Mullican, J.E. 2009. Reproductive health of bass in the Potomac, USA, drainage: Part 2. Seasonal occurrence of persistent and emerging organic contaminants. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 28(5): 1084-1095.
Reconnaissance of Persistent and Emerging Contaminants in the Shenandoah and James River Basins, Virginia, During Spring of 2007

Alvarez, D.A., Cranor, W.L., Perkins, S.D., Schroeder, V.L., Werner, S.L., Furlong, E.T., Kain, D., and Brent, R., 2008, Reconnaissance of Persistent and Emerging Contaminants in the Shenandoah and James River Basins, Virginia, During Spring of 2007: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Open-File Report 2008-1231, 19 p.
Uptake rate constants and partition coefficients for vapor phase organic chemicals using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) (91636)

Cranor, W.L., Alvarez, D.A., Huckins, J.N. and Petty, J.D. 2009. Uptake rate constants and partition coefficients for vapor phase organic chemicals using semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) Atmospheric Environment, 43(20): 3211-3219.
Analysis of SPMD Samples from the April 2004 Deployment in Bluestone River, Virgina for PCB's as Bioavailable Organic Contaminants

Cranor, W.L., Alvarez, D.A., Perkins, S.D., Clark, R.C., and Tegerdine, G.A., 2004, Analysis of SPMD Samples from the April 2004 Deployment in Bluestone River, Virginia for PCB's as Bioavailable Organic Contaminants: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Report to Virgina Department of Environmental Quality, 71 p.
Use of SPMD Technology for a Probablisitic Assessment of Hydrophobic Organic Contaminants in Selected Reaches of Virginia Rivers

Cranor, W.L., Alvarez, D.A., Perkins, S.D., Tegerdine, G.A., Clark, R.C., and Huckins, J.N., 2005, Use of SPMD Technology for a Probablisitic Assessment of Hydrophobic Organic Contaminants in Selected Reaches of Virginia Rivers: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Report to Virgina Department of Environmental Quality, 135 p.
Analysis of SPMD Samples from the October/November 2004 Deployment in Lake Anna, Virgina for PCB's as Bioavailable Organic Compounds

Cranor, W.L., Perkins, S.D., Clark, R.C., and Tegerdine, G.A., 2004, Analysis of SPMD Samples from the October/November 2004 Deployment in Lake Anna, Virginia for PCB's as Bioavailable Organic Compounds: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Report to Virgina Department of Environmental Quality, 43 p.
Semivolatile organic compounds in residential air along the Arizona−Mexico Border (91629)

Gale, R.W., Cranor, W.L., Alvarez, D.A., Huckins, J.N., Petty, J.D. and Robertson, G.L. 2009. Semivolatile organic compounds in residential air along the Arizona−Mexico Border. Environmental Science and Technology, 43(9): 3054-3060.
How useful are the "other" semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs); the mini-unit (15.2 cm long)? (91634)

Goodbred, S.L., Bryant, W.L., Rosen, M.R., Alvarez, D. and Spencer, T. 2009. How useful are the "other" semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs); the mini-unit (15.2 cm long)? Science of The Total Environment, 407(13): 4149-5156.
Reproductive health of bass in the Potomac, USA, drainage: Part 1. Exploring the effects of proximity to wastewater treatment and plant discharge (91608)

Iwanowicz, L.R., Blazer, V.S., Guy, C.P., Pinkney, A.E., Mullican, J.E. and Alvarez, D.A. 2009. Reproductive health of bass in the Potomac, USA, drainage: Part 1. Exploring the effects of proximity to wastewater treatment and plant discharge. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 28(5): 1072-1083.
Investigation of the Distribution of Organochlorine and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Compounds in the Lower Columbia River Using Semipermeable-membrane Devices

McCarthy, K.A. and Gale, R.W, 1999, Investigation of the Distribution of Organochlorine and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Compounds in the Lower Columbia River Using Semipermeable-membrane Devices: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4051, 136 p.
Survey of Chemical Contaminants in the Hanalei River, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, 2001

Orazio, C.E., May, T.W., Gale, R.W., Meadows, J.C., Brumbaugh, W.G., Echols, K.R., Steiner, W.W.M., and Berg, C.J., Jr., 2007, Survey of Chemical Contaminants in the Hanalei River, Kaua'i, Hawai'i, 2001: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Scientific Investigations Report 2007-5096, 22 p.
The Use of Semipermeable Membrane Devices (SPMDs) to Concentrate Inducers of Fish Hepatic Mixed Oxygenase (MFO) (90906)

Parrott, J.L. and Tillitt, D.E., 1997, The Use of Semipermeable Membrane Devices (SPMDs) to Concentrate Inducers of Fish Hepatic Mixed Oxygenase (MFO):Chapter 12 in Ecotoxicology:Responses, Biomarkers, and Risk Assessment, 12 p.
Occurrence of organic wastewater compounds in the Tinkers Creek Watershed and two other tributaries to the Cuyahoga River, Northeast Ohio (91618)

Tertuliani, J.S., Alvarez, D.A., Furlong, E.T., Meyer, M.T., Zaugg, S.D. and Koltun, G.F. 2008. Occurrence of organic wastewater compounds in the Tinkers Creek Watershed and two other tributaries to the Cuyahoga River, Northeast Ohio. U.S. Geological Survey, Scientific Investigations Report 2008-5173.
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

Alvarez, D.A., Cranor, W.L., Perkins, S.D., Schroeder, V.L., Werner, S.L., Furlong, E.T., and Holmes, J., 2008, 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: U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri, Open-File Report 2008–1093, 16 p.