Research Areas > Contaminants > Measurement, Fate & Bioavailability > Passive Sampling Applications

Project Group: Applications for Passive Sampling Technology

SCCWRP Research

Passive samplers collect and accumulate contaminants of interest from air or water without using external energy sources such as batteries or electricity. Because they are simple and inexpensive to use, passive samplers are becoming increasingly popular for regulatory applications (e.g., for monitoring of chemical constituents in natural or receiving waters). By measuring the bioavailable fraction of metal and organic contaminants, for example, passive sampler measurements are directly related to biological effects. SCCWRP’s contaminant research utilizes passive sampling technology to help quantify the bioavailability of sediment-associated hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs), estimate loading and source contributions of regulated organic contaminants in impaired waterways, and document the occurrence and levels of emerging contaminants of concern.

Passive sampling research projects include:

• In situ Measurements of Toxic Organic Compounds in Sediment Porewater
• Estimating Pollutant Loadings and Fluxes in Impaired Coastal Waterways Using Passive Samplers