Field uptake rates of hydrophobic organic contaminants by semipermeable membrane devices: environmental monitoring considerations

Abstract

The uptake rates of selected hydrophobic organic contaminants (HOCs) by semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs)—a polyethylene layflat containing the lipid triolein—were investigated under natural conditions. SPMDs were exposed in three sampling sites (industrial, urban, and agricultural areas) in the Tajo River (Toledo, Spain) for 5, 11 and 20 d. The organochlorine compounds 4,4′-DDT, 4,4′-DDE, α-HCH, γ-HCH, pentachlorobenzene, hexachlorobenzene, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and the 16 priority pollutant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected in the SPMDs deployed in the three sampling sites. A linear uptake rate was found for DDTs and for 4-Cl- and 5-Cl-substituted PCB congeners in all sampling sites. Concentrations of HCHs (80.3 ng g⁻¹ SPMD for α-HCH and 109 ng g⁻¹ SPMD for γ-HCH after 20 d of exposure) increased according to a linear uptake rate in the SPMDs deployed in the sampling site located in the agricultural area. Likewise, a marked increase of total PAH concentration (up to 300 ng g⁻¹ SPMD after 20 d of exposure) was solely found in the sampling site situated near a thermoelectric power station. Examination of individual PAHs revealed that PAHs with log K_OW between 4.2 and 5.7 displayed a linear uptake rate over the 20 d of exposure. Water concentrations (ng L⁻¹) of HCB (0.80–2.48), lindane (1.30–11.5), 4,4′-DDT (0.61–2.02), 4,4′-DDE (6.89–11.6) and total PAHs (12.0–26.7) estimated by a linear uptake kinetic model were found to be high in comparison with other polluted aquatic systems, and similar to concentrations in other Spanish rivers. Our results suggest that SPMD kinetic uptake studies in the natural environment are recommended for identifying point-pollution sources, and that shorter times of SPMD exposure (∼1 week) are desirable to minimize one of the main problems of field SPMD deployment, i.e., the biofouling, which negatively affects the estimation of the dissolved HOC concentrations.