The Use of Passive Samplers to Reveal Industrial and Agricultural Pollution Trends in Swiss Rivers

Authors

  • Adrien Schopfer EPFL ENAC IIE GR-CEL GR A1 382 (Building GR) Station 2 CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Nicolas Estoppey Ecole des sciences criminelles Université de Lausanne CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Julien Omlin EPFL ENAC IIE GR-CEL GR A1 382 (Building GR) Station 2 CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Robin Udrisard Ecole des sciences criminelles Université de Lausanne CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Pierre Esseiva Ecole des sciences criminelles Université de Lausanne CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Luiz Felippe de Alencastro EPFL ENAC IIE GR-CEL GR A1 382 (Building GR) Station 2 CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. felippe.dealencastro@epfl.ch

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2014.778

Keywords:

Herbicides, Ldpe, Passive sampling, Pcb, Pocis

Abstract

This study shows the efficiency of passive sampling to reveal industrial and agricultural pollution trends. Two practical applications for nonpolar and polar contaminants are presented. Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) samplers were deployed for one year in the Venoge River (VD) to monitor indicator PCBs (iPCBs, IUPAC nos. 28, 52, 101, 138, 153 and 180). The results showed that the impact of PCB emissions into the river is higher in summer than in other seasons due to the low flow rate of the river during this period. Polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) were deployed for 4 months in the Sion-Riddes canal (VS) to investigate herbicides (terbuthylazine, diuron and linuron). Desisopropylatrazine-d5 (DIA-d5) was tested as a performance reference compound (PRC) to estimate aqueous concentration. The results showed an increase of water contamination due to the studied agricultural area. The maximal contamination was observed in April and corresponds to the period of herbicide application on the crops.

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Published

2014-11-26

Issue

Section

Scientific Articles

How to Cite

[1]
A. Schopfer, N. Estoppey, J. Omlin, R. Udrisard, P. Esseiva, L. F. de Alencastro, Chimia 2014, 68, 778, DOI: 10.2533/chimia.2014.778.