Monitoring-PAH

Shaw, M. Tibbetts, I.R. Muller, J.F. 2004, Monitoring PAHs in the Brisbane River and Moreton Bay, Australia, using semipermeable membrane devices and EROD activity in yellowfin bream, Acanthopagrus australis. Chemosphere 3 237-246. 

Modem analytical techniques, including HPLC with diode-array UV detection and spectrofluorometry, have been used to identify the large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) produced in catalytic hydrocracking. Several reaction pathways have been inferred from these structures. New simpler analytical methods can then be used to monitor PAH production. 

The purpose of this chapter is to describe the analytical methods that are available for detecting, and/or measuring, and/or monitoring PAHs. its metabolites, and other biomarkers of exposure and effect to PAHs. The intent is not to provide an exhaustive list of analytical methods. Rather, the intention is to identify well-established methods that are used as the standard methods of analysis. Many of the analytical methods used for environmental samples are the methods approved by federal agencies and organizations such as EPA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Other methods presented in this chapter are those that are approved by groups such as the Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) and the American Public Health Association (APHA). Additionally, analytical methods are included that modify previously used methods to obtain lower detection limits, and/or to improve accuracy and precision. 

Vegetation samples are easier and more economical to collect than air samples. Moss (Hypnum cupressiforme) has no root system so pollutant uptake is only from the atmosphere. " Pine needles have also been sampled to determine ambient PAH concentrations. Although vegetation concentrations do not directly measure atmospheric concentrations, they allow for monitoring PAH deposition over a large area for a long time period. 

Benzopyrene belongs to the most monitored PAH in soil. Some PAH are on the lists of the most significant environmental pollutants published by the U.S. EPA or the EU. A mnnber of coimtries set criteria for the quahty of mainly arable soil including data on the limit content of PAH (van de PLASSCHE, E. et.al. 1997). 

Another estuary in NW Spain was selected by Pereira et al. for monitoring PAHs pollution in bivalve species (Pereira et al. 2011). The TPAHs concentrations were comparable to those reported form moderately contaminated areas, however additional concern has been raised since in one sampUng point the respective values were higher than those obtained in mussels 3 days after the Prestige shipwreck (Nieto et al. 2006). 

Ideally, the best species to use for monitoring bioavailable PAH contamination in the environment would be a polychaete or bivalve species with minimal metabolic capacity for PAHs. It should be noted, however, that even though species with low biotransformation activity may be the best candidates for monitoring PAH bioaccumulation, many factors affecting uptake and elimination, including factors that impair animal health, will influence PAH body burden. This is an important consideration for any study of PAH bioaccumulation in field-collected organisms. 

Recent Trends in Analytical Methods TO Chemically Monitor PAH Pollution... 

The main aim of this chapter is to describe the most common procedures to monitor PAHs in environmental samples, with emphasis to the analytical methods used in extraction and determination procedures. This chapter is divided in analytical monitoring depending on the nature of the sample, though some methods turn out to be common for different samples. 

Figure 4. Common steps of the analytical method to monitor PAHs in air.

Nevertheless, few applications of PLE have been reported for the extraction of sampling devices when monitoring PAHs in air. Table 10 reports several examples of reported applications in the literature for this kind of samples. 

Table 17. Analytical applications of LLE to monitor PAHs in water samples.

Table 18. Utilization of SPE as extraction procedure for monitoring PAHs in waters. 

Active sampling is the main sampling approach when intending to monitor PAHs in soil, sediment or sludge samples. 

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