Environmental pollution monitoring automation

Tschmelak, J., G. Proll, J. Riedt, et al. 2005. Biosensors for unattended, cost-effective and continuous monitoring of environmental pollution Automated water analyser computer supported system (AWACSS) and river analyser (RIANA). Int. J. Environ. Anal. Chem. 85 837-852. 

Generally, the analysis of environmental pollutants is considered as a necessary expense that is performed solely if stated by law. With less expensive screening methods and automated modern equipment to analyze suspect samples, the cost of analysis will become much lower. Hence, the attitude towards QA would most probably be more positive and the analytical work much more reliable for the customers. This also strengthens the international competitiveness of European producers. The credibility of the entire monitoring chain (screening methods, reference and standardized methods, as well as CRMs for the quality control of these methods) lies in the adequacy and integration of all three levels of the system. The adequate development and validation of methods is a prerequisite for a harmonized measurement system [80]. 

The monitoring of environmental pollution requires a large number of determinations to be made on atmospheric samples taken In very different places. The automation of gas sampling systems is highly recommended or even essential In most Instances, not only in pollution monitoring but also in Industrial product control. 

Because of the large number of samples and repetitive nature of environmental analysis, automation is very important. Autosamplers are used for sample injection with gc and Ic systems, and data analysis is often handled automatically by user-defined macros in the data system. The high demand for the analysis of environmental samples has led to the estabUshment of contract laboratories which are supported purely by profits from the analysis. On-site monitoring of pollutants is also possible using small quadmpole ms systems fitted into mobile laboratories. 

This set-up, or a very similar one, has been used to determine different group of pollutants in environmental waters (45, 83, 93). For example, with 10 ml of sample the limits of detection of a group of pesticides were between 2 and 20 ng 1 (92) in tap and river water, with this system being fully automated. Figure 13.19 shows the chromatograms obtained by on-line SPE-GC-MS under selected ion-monitoring conditions of 10 ml of tap water spiked with pesticides at levels of 0.1 pig 1 (92). 

Continuous, or very frequent, automated measurement of individual or groups of toxic compounds or general physico chemical properties, can provide a rapid warning of changed environmental conditions. A few chemical methods (such as the LC SAMOS for polar compounds (Slobodnik et al., 1992)) may even detect the occurrence of high concentrations of specific contaminants of concern at the test site. In situ, online and on-site approaches are described in other chapters of this volume, but as yet, application is restricted by the limited availability of suitable, sufficiently sensitive and selective (bio)sensors and monitors for the analysis of (priority) pollutants that need to be monitored. Once available, they may provide (semi)-qualitative and quantitative information on the occurrence of compounds in the waters. 

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