Abstract |
The objective of this Sediment Assessment and Monitoring Sheet (SAMS) is to provide introductory information on the use of passive samplers at Superfund sediment sites contaminated with hydrophobic organic contaminants. The concept of passive sampling in the environment was first developed in the 1980s, and samplers started to be deployed in the field for research purposes in the 1990s. Since then, passive samplers have been used for monitoring contaminant concentrations in the water column, soil and sediment interstitial waters, and air at sites around the world. Their use in sediments to date has been primarily for research, however. As discussed below, passive samplers are useful new tools for assessing contaminant exposures and evaluating the potential for adverse environmental effects at Superfund sites. After reading this SAMS, users will have a fundamental understanding of some common passive samplers and their potential applications at Superfund sites. |