A comparative evaluation of passive and active samplers for measurements of gaseous semi-volatile organic compounds in the tropical atmosphere

The polyurethane foam (PUF) disk-based passive air samplers (PAS), mounted inside two aluminium bowls to buffer the air flow to the disk and to shield it from precipitation and sunlight, were used for the collection of atmospheric SVOCs in Singapore during April 2008–June 2008. Data obtained from PAS measurements are compared to those from active high-volume air sampling (AAS). Single factor ANOVA tests show that there were no significant differences in chemical distribution profiles between actively and passively collected samples (PAHs, F = 3.38 × 10^?8 < F_critical = 4.17 with p > 0.05; OCPs, F = 2.71 × 10^?8 < F_critical = 4.75 with p > 0.05). The average air-side mass transfer coefficient (k_A) for PAS, determined from the loss of depuration compounds such as 13C₆ – HCB (1000 ng), 13C₁₂ – 4,4′ DDT (1000 ng) and 13C₁₂ – PCB 101 (1000 ng)spiked on the disks prior to deployment, was 0.12 ± 0.04 m s^?1. These values are comparable to those reported previously in the literature. The average sampling rate was 3.78 ± 1.83 m³ d^?1 for the 365 cm² PUF disk. Throughout the entire sampling period (～68 d), most of the PAHs and all OCPs exhibited a linear uptake trend on PAS, while naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene and fluorene reached the curvilinear phase after the first ～30 d exposure. Theoretically estimated times to equilibrium (t_eq) ranged from around one month for Acy to hundreds of years for DB(ah)A. Sampling rates, based on the time integrated active sampling-derived concentrations and masses collected by PUF disks during the linear uptake phase, were determined for all target compounds with the average values of 2.50 m³ d^?1 and 3.43 m³ d^?1 for PAHs and OCPs, respectively. More variations were observed as compared to those from the depuration study. These variation were most likely due to the difference of physicochemical properties of individual species. Lastly, multiple linear regression models were developed to estimate the log-transformed gaseous concentration of an individual compound in air based on the mass collection rate of the gaseous SVOCs measured using the PAS and the molecular weight (MW) of the particular compound for both PAHs and OCPs, respectively.     

Polyurethane foam (PUF) disks passive air samplers: wind effect on sampling rates

Different passive sampler housings were evaluated for their wind dampening ability and how this might translate to variability in sampler uptake rates. Polyurethane foam (PUF) disk samplers were used as the sampling medium and were exposed to a PCB-contaminated atmosphere in a wind tunnel. The effect of outside wind speed on PUF disk sampling rates was evaluated by exposing polyurethane foam (PUF) disks to a PCB-contaminated air stream in a wind tunnel over air velocities in the range 0 to 1.75 m s-1. PUF disk sampling rates increased gradually over the range 0-0.9 m s-1 at approximately 4.5-14.6 m3 d-1 and then increased sharply to approximately 42 m3 d-1 at approximately 1.75 m s-1 (sum of PCBs). The results indicate that for most field deployments the conventional 'flying saucer' housing adequately dampens the wind effect and will yield approximately time-weighted air concentrations.     

A directional passive air sampler for monitoring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air mass

A passive air sampler was developed for collecting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air mass from various directions. The airflow velocity within the sampler was assessed for its responses to ambient wind speed and direction. The sampler was examined for trapped particles, evaluated quantitatively for influence of airflow velocity and temperature on PAH uptake, examined for PAH uptake kinetics, calibrated against active sampling, and finally tested in the field. The airflow volume passing the sampler was linearly proportional to ambient wind speed and sensitive to wind direction. The uptake rate for an individual PAH was a function of airflow velocity, temperature and the octanol-air partitioning coefficient of the PAH. For all PAHs with more than two rings, the passive sampler operated in a linear uptake phase for three weeks. Different PAH concentrations were obtained in air masses from different directions in the field test.     

Calibration of polyurethane foam (PUF) disk passive air samplers for quantitative measurement of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): factors influencing sampling rates

PUF disk passive air samplers are increasingly employed for monitoring of POPs in ambient air. In order to utilize them as quantitative sampling devices, a calibration experiment was conducted. Time integrated indoor air concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs were obtained from a low volume air sampler operated over a 50 d period alongside the PUF disk samplers in the same office microenvironment. Passive sampling rates for the fully-sheltered sampler design employed in our research were determined for the 51 PCB and 7 PBDE congeners detected in all calibration samples. These values varied from 0.57 to 1.55 m3 d(-1) for individual PCBs and from 1.1 to 1.9 m3 d(-1) for PBDEs. These values are appreciably lower than those reported elsewhere for different PUF disk sampler designs (e.g. partially sheltered) employed under different conditions (e.g. in outdoor air), and derived using different calibration experiment configurations. This suggests that sampling rates derived for a specific sampler configuration deployed under specific environmental conditions, should not be extrapolated to different sampler configurations. Furthermore, our observation of variable congener-specific sampling rates (consistent with other studies), implies that more research is required in order to understand fully the factors that influence sampling rates. Analysis of wipe samples taken from the inside of the sampler housing, revealed evidence that the housing surface scavenges particle bound PBDEs.     

Simultaneous monitoring of profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in contaminated air with semipermeable membrane devices and spruce needles

Gaseous emissions of combusted electronic scrap, PVC, carpet and wood were monitored for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by simultaneous use of semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) and shoots of spruce needles (Picea abies). It was found that phenanthrene, acenaphthylene and fluorene were the dominating PAHs in all samples. SPMDs and needles mainly sequestered PAH associated with the vapor phase. Particle-bound PAHs were only detected in small amounts, at which the needles tended to uptake more of these compounds in comparison to the SPMDs. Nevertheless, the logarithm of the concentrations of PAHs analyzed in both passive samplers after the same sampling period exhibited a significant linear correlation with correlation coefficients larger than 0.8073. SPMDs and spruce needles can complement each other in passive air sampling for compounds with a preference to the gas phase rather than aerosols.     

Further studies on the uptake of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) by polyurethane foam disk passive air samplers

Passive air samplers (PAS) can be used to monitor semi-volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere. Polyurethane foam (PUF) disks are a popular sampling medium because they have a high retention capacity for such compounds. This paper reports a highly time-resolved uptake study, to derive uptake rate data under field conditions, and investigate the effects of using different foam densities on the uptake rate. PUF disks were deployed alongside an active sampler, for periods of up to 12 weeks. The uptake rates were measured for a range of gas- and particle-bound persistent organic pollutants (polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)), of different properties, to explore whether gas–particle partitioning affected uptake rate. Uptake rates for two different densities of foam (0.021 and 0.035 g cm^?3) were not statistically significantly different from each other. Uptake rates of light PCBs averaged ～6.5 m³ day^?1, somewhat higher than in previous studies; higher wind speeds and lower temperatures in this study are the likely reason for this difference. The study showed: i) the uptake rate of the compound with lowest K_OA considered in this study (PCB-28/31) declined in the later weeks, indicating an approach to equilibrium; ii) uptake rates of lighter BDEs and heavier PCBs (compounds of intermediate K_OA in this study) remain similar throughout the study period, indicating that they are not approaching equilibrium during the 12-week-study; iii) uptake rates were typically: ～8 m³ day^?1 for PCB-52; ～9.5 m³ day^?1 for PCB-95; ～11 m³ day^?1 for BDE-28 and ～2 m³ day^?1 BDE-99. The latter compound has an important particle-bound component and this lowers the sampling rate compared to predicted uptake rates for compounds which are in the gas phase only. It is shown that knowledge of gas–particle partitioning is needed to correct for this effect, and to improve predicted uptake rates.     

Performance evaluation of a tailor-made passive sampler for monitoring of tropospheric ozone

Introduction

This study presents the performance evaluation of a tailor-made passive sampler developed for the monitoring of tropospheric ozone.

Methods

The performance of the passive sampler was tested in the field conditions in terms of accuracy, precision, blank values, detection limit, effects of some parameters such as sampling site characteristics and sampling period on the field blanks, self-consistency, experimental and theoretical uptake rates, shelf life and comparison with commercial passive samplers.

Results

There was an agreement (R ²?=?0.84) between the responses of passive sampler and the continuous automatic analyser. The accuracy of the sampler, expressed as percent relative error, was obtained lower than 15%. Method precision in terms of coefficient of variance for three simultaneously applied passive samplers was 12%. Sampler detection limit was 2.42???g?m^?3 for an exposure period of 1?week, and the sampler can be stored safely for a period of up to 8?weeks before exposure. Satisfactory self-consistency results showed that extended periods gave the same integrated response as a series of short-term samplers run side by side. The uptake rate of ozone was found to be 10.21?mL?min^?1 in a very good agreement with the theoretical uptake rate (10.32?mL?min^?1). The results of the comparison study conducted against a commercially available diffusion tube (Gradko diffusion tube) showed a good linear relationship (R ²?=?0.93) between two passive samplers.

Conclusions

The sampler seems suitable to be used in large-scale measurements of ozone where no data are available or the number of existing automated monitors is not sufficient.     

Validation of a flow-through sampler for pesticides and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in air

At locations without access to the electrical grid, a flow-through sampler (FTS) collects large volumes of air for the analysis of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs). To test its performance under field conditions, an FTS and a traditional pumped high volume air sampler, both using polyurethane foam (PUF) as sampling medium, were co-deployed at the campus of the University of Toronto Scarborough from August 2006 to June 2007. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and various pesticides were quantified in the samples taken by both samplers to test the FTS's applicability to relatively non-volatile and slightly polar SVOCs. Air concentrations in samples taken with the FTS over five 2-week periods compare favourably with the average of the concentrations in several 24-h active high volume samples taken during the same period. In particular, time trends, temperature dependence relationships, and isomer ratios show a reasonable agreement between the two sampling techniques. An empirical linear solvation energy relationship for predicting the apparent theoretical plate number of the PUF assembly used in the FTS illustrates the effect of chemical properties, as well as temperature and wind speed, on sampling efficiency. In the absence of electrical power, the FTS can collect SVOCs from large air volumes as reliably and quantitatively as traditional HiVol samplers, although without separating gas and particle phase.     

Vapor-Phase and Fine Particulate Matter Concentrations of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Measured during the Winter Months in a Northern Rocky Mountain Urban Airshed

Abstract

A fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) sampling program was conducted in Missoula, MT, to investigate both the particle and vapor phases of PM_2.5-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in a northern Rocky Mountain urban airshed. Twenty-four-hour samples were collected during the cold winter months of January through April 2002, when many of the more volatile organic components of PM_2.5 were expected to be found in the condensed particle form. To meet analytical detection limits, each of the 12 individual sample days were aggregated into four total filter and polyurethane foam (PUF) samples, respectively, with each aggregate containing 3 sample days. Quartz filter (particle-phase PAHs) and PUF (vapor-phase PAHs) aggregates were analyzed separately for 18 individual PAHs and phenolics by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results showed that 87% of the PM_2.5-associated phenolics and PAHs measured in this study were found in the vapor phase. PM_2.5-associated gas/particle partition coefficients (K_p,2.5) ranged from 0 for the lighter phenolics and PAHs to ~0.1 for some of the heavier PAHs, such as fluoranthene and pyrene. Calculating K_p,2.5 for the heaviest measured PAHs was not feasible because of low or undetectable concentrations in the vapor phases of these compounds. Phenolics and two-ringed and three-ringed PAHs were found almost exclusively in the vapor phase. Four-ringed PAHs were distributed between the particle and vapor phases, with more mass measured in the vapor phase. Very little five-ringed and higher PAHs were measured from either the filter or PUF sampling medium. These results provide information on both the concentrations and different phases of PM_2.5-associated PAHs measured during the winter months in a northern Rocky Mountain urban airshed, when concentrations of PM_2.5 are generally at their highest compared with the rest of the year.     

Computational fluid dynamic modeling of two passive samplers

To effectively use a passive sampler for monitoring trace contaminants in the gas-phase, its sampling characteristics as a function of ambient wind conditions must be known. In this study two commonly used passive samplers were evaluated using computational fluid dynamics. Contaminant uptake by the polyurethane foam (PUF) was modeled using a species transport model. The external-internal flow interactions in the sampler were characterized, and the uptake rates of contaminant species were quantified. The simulations show that flow fields in the samplers have strong velocity gradients, and single-point velocity measurements do not capture flow interactions accurately. Sampling rates calculated for a PUF in freestream are in good agreement with sampling rates for PUFs in the passive samplers studied for the same average velocity over the PUF. The calculated sampling rates are in general agreement with those obtained experimentally by other researchers.     

Contribution of sugar-cane harvesting season to atmospheric contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Araraquara city,Southeast Brazil

In Brazil, sugar-cane crops are burned to facilitate harvesting, and this causes environmental pollution from the large amounts of smoke and soot that are released into the atmosphere. The smoke and soot contain numerous organic compounds such as PAHs. In this study, PM₁₀ and PAH concentrations in the air of Araraquara (SE Brazil, with around 200,000 inhabitants and surrounded by sugar-cane plantations) were determined during the harvest and non-harvest seasons. The sampling strategy included two campaigns in each season, with 20 samples per season. PM₁₀ was collected using a Hi-vol sampler with Teflon? – coated glass fiber filters. PM₁₀ ranged from 41 to 181 μg m^?3 during the harvest season, and from 12 to 47 μg m^?3 during the non-harvest season. The mean total concentration of PAHs was 2.5 ng m^?3 (non-harvest season) and 11.6 ng m^?3 (harvest season). In all sampling periods, the most abundant polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were phenanthrene and fluoranthrene, and the least abundant was anthracene. The cluster analysis of the total PAH concentrations for each day of sampling and the corresponding meteorological data suggested that the atmospheric concentration of PAHs was independent of the differences in the weather between the seasons. For both sampling seasons, the statistical treatment (PCA, Varimax rotation and HCA) indicated the presence of vehicle sources (diesel, gasoline, and natural-gas engines); but for the harvest season, the main source was attributed to sugar-cane burning. The data generated by this study indicated the burning of sugar-cane as the main contributor to the high levels of PAHs detected in samples during the sugar-cane harvest season.     

Determination of deployment specific chemical uptake rates for SDB-RPD Empore disk using a passive flow monitor (PFM)

The use of the adsorbent styrenedivinylbenzene-reverse phase sulfonated (SDB-RPD) Empore disk in a chemcatcher type passive sampler is routinely applied in Australia when monitoring herbicides in aquatic environments. One key challenge in the use of passive samplers is mitigating the potentially confounding effects of varying flow conditions on chemical uptake by the passive sampler. Performance reference compounds (PRCs) may be applied to correct sampling rates (R_s) for site specific changed in flow and temperature however evidence suggests the use of PRCs is unreliable when applied to adsorbent passive samplers. The use of the passive flow monitor (PFM) has been introduced for the assessment of site-specific changes in water flow. In the presented study we have demonstrated that the R_s at which both atrazine and prometryn are accumulated within the SDB-RPD-Empore disk is dependent on the flow conditions. Further, the calibration of the measured R_s for chemical uptake by the SDB-RPD-Empore disk to the mass lost from the PFM has shown that the PFM provides an accurate measure of R_s for flow velocities from 0 to 16 cm s⁻¹. Notably, for flow rates >16 cm s⁻¹, a non linear increase in the R_s of both herbicides was observed which indicates that the key resistance to uptake into the SDB-RPD Empore disk is associated with the diffusion through the overlying diffusion limiting membrane. Overall the greatest uncertainty remains at very low flow conditions, which are unlikely to often occur in surface waters. Validation of the PFM use has also been undertaken in a limited field study.     

Gas- and particle-phase distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in two-stroke, 50-cm3 moped emissions

Gas- and particle-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations evaluated in the exhaust of 10 two-stroke, 50-cm³ mopeds belonging to three different levels of emission legislation (EURO-0, EURO-1 and EURO-2) were used to assess the prevalent mechanism driving the gas/particle partitioning of PAHs in moped exhaust. Sampling was performed on a dynamometer bench both during the “cold-start” and the “hot” phases of the ECE-47 driving cycle. Gas and particulate phase PAHs were collected on polyurethane foam (PUF) plugs and 47-mm Pallflex T60A20 filters, respectively, under isokinetic conditions by using sampling probes inserted into the dilution tunnel of a Constant Volume Sampling – Critical Flow Venturi (CVS–CFV) system.The results show that semi-volatile PAHs were predominantly partitioned to the particle phase. The soluble organic fraction (SOF) of the collected particulates ranged between 72 and 98%. Measured total suspended particulate matter normalized partition coefficients (K_p) were predicted within a factor of 3–5 by assuming absorption into the organic fraction according to a model developed by Harner and Bidleman [Harner, T., Bidleman, T.F., 1998. Octanol–air partition coefficient for describing particle/gas partitioning of aromatic compounds in urban air. Environmental Science & Technology 32, 1494–1502.]. This suggests that the gas/particle partitioning in moped exhaust is mainly driven by the high fraction of organic matter of the emitted particles and that absorption could be the main partitioning mechanism of PAHs.     

Predicting bioavailability of PAHs in field-contaminated soils by passive sampling with triolein embedded cellulose acetate membranes

Triolein embedded cellulose acetate membrane (TECAM) was used for passive sampling of the fraction of naphthalene, phenanthrene, pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene in 18 field-contaminated soils. The sampling process of PAHs by TECAM fitted well with a first-order kinetics model and PAHs reached 95% of equilibrium in TECAM within 20 h. Concentrations of PAHs in TECAM (C_TECAM) correlated well with the concentrations in soils (r² = 0.693-0.962, p < 0.001). Furthermore, concentrations of PAHs determined in the soil solution were very close to the values estimated by C_TECAM and the partition coefficient between TECAM and water (K_TECAM-w). After lipid normalization nearly 1:1 relationships were observed between PAH concentrations in TECAMs and earthworms exposed to the soils (r² = 0.591-0.824, n = 18, p < 0.01). These results suggest that TECAM can be a useful tool to predict bioavailability of PAHs in field-contaminated soils.     

Bioaccumulation and depuration of anthracene in Penaeus monodon (Fibricius) through food ingestion

Understanding on the bioaccumulation and depuration of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in Penaeus monodon is important in seafood safety because it is one of the most popular seafood consumed worldwide. In this study, we used anthracene as the precursor compound for PAHs accumulation and depuration in the shrimp. Commercial feed pellets spiked with anthracene were fed to P. monodon. At 20 mg kg⁻¹ anthracene, P. monodon accumulated 0.1% of the anthracene from the feed. P. monodon deputed the PAH two times faster than its accumulation. The shrimp reduced its feed consumption when anthracene content in the feed exceeded 20 mg kg⁻¹. At 100 mg kg⁻¹ anthracene, P. monodon started to have necrosis tissues on the posterior end of their thorax. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF), uptake rate constant (k₁) and depuration rate constant (k₂) of anthracene in P. monodon were 1.15 × 10⁻³, 6.80 × 10⁻⁴ d⁻¹ and 6.28 × 10⁻¹ d⁻¹, respectively. The depuration rate constant is about thousand times higher than the uptake rate constant and this indicated that this crustacean is efficient in depurating hydrocarbons from their tissue.     

A passive air sampler for characterizing the vertical concentration profile of gaseous phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in near soil surface air

Air-soil exchange is an important process governing the fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). A novel passive air sampler was designed and tested for measuring the vertical concentration profile of 4 low molecular weight PAHs in gaseous phase (PAH_LMW4) in near soil surface air. Air at various heights from 5 to 520 mm above the ground was sampled by polyurethane foam disks held in down-faced cartridges. The samplers were tested at three sites: A: an extremely contaminated site, B: a site near A, and C: a background site on a university campus. Vertical concentration gradients were revealed for PAH_LMW4 within a thin layer close to soil surface at the three sites. PAH concentrations either decreased (Site A) or increased (Sites B and C) with height, suggesting either deposition to or evaporation from soils. The sampler is a useful tool for investigating air-soil exchange of gaseous phase semi-volatile organic chemicals.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Costa Rican air and soil: A tropical/temperate comparison

Surface soil and passive air samples from a network of 23 sampling sites across Costa Rica were analyzed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), allowing for an evaluation of absolute levels, spatial distribution patterns, air/soil concentration (A/S) ratios and relative composition. Annual mean concentrations of four-ring PAHs in air were low (median of approximately 40 pg m⁻³), except in Costa Rica's densely populated central valley (approximately 650 pg m⁻³). PAH concentrations in soil were also low (median of 5 ng g⁻¹ dry weight) and comparable to those reported for other tropical regions. These low soil concentrations result in A/S ratios of four-ring PAHs in Costa Rica that are higher than the equilibrium air–soil partitioning coefficients and also higher than A/S ratios reported for temperate locations. A series of model calculations of increasing complexity were used to seek an explanation for variable A/S ratios of PAHs under tropical and temperate conditions. Temperature-driven changes in air–soil partitioning and differences in PAH degradability under temperate and tropical conditions are insufficient to explain the higher soil concentrations and lower A/S ratios in temperate regions. However, these can be explained by atmospheric deposition of PAHs during historical periods of much higher emissions and air concentrations and by persistence of PAHs in soils on the order of decades. Low PAH concentrations in tropical soils were found to be consistent with constant or increasing emissions, and in particular, do not require that degradation rates in soil are much faster than in temperate areas. In comparison to temperate soils, soils from Costa Rica and other tropical regions have a higher relative abundance of the lighter PAHs. This likely reflects a higher source contribution from biomass burning in the tropics, as well as the preferential loss of lighter PAHs from temperate soils that experienced high PAH deposition in the past.     

Passive air monitoring of PCBs and PCNs across East Asia: a comprehensive congener evaluation for source characterization

A comprehensive congener specific evaluation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs) in the atmosphere was conducted across East Asia in spring 2008, applying polyurethane foam (PUF) disk passive air sampler (PAS) as monitoring device. Mean concentrations derived for Japan, China and Korea were 184 ± 24, 1100 ± 118, and 156 ± 20 pg m⁻³ for ∑₂₀₂ PCBs, and 9.5 ± 1.5, 61 ± 6, and 16 ± 2.4 pg m⁻³ for ∑₆₃ PCNs, respectively. Relative to reported data from 2004, the present results suggest that air PCBs concentrations have not changed much in Japan and Korea, while it has increased by one order of magnitude in China. From principal component analysis, combustion emerged highly culpable in contemporary emissions of both PCBs and PCNs across the East Asian sub-region. Another factor derived as important to air PCBs was re-emissions/volatilization. Signals from PCBs formulations were also picked, but their general importance was virtually consigned to the re-emissions/volatilization tendencies. On the contrary, counterpart PCNs formulations did not appear to contribute much to air PCNs.     

New passive samplers for chlorinated semivolatile organic pollutants in ambient air

Two new types of passive samplers were designed and tested on semivolatile organic compounds. The first type (a spiral-rod sampler) consists of a low-density polyethylene membrane acting as a permeation film and a silicone elastomer as the receiving material; the second (a stir-bar sampler) has the same membrane material but a polydimethylsiloxane-coated stir bar acting as the collector phase and installed radially symmetrically in the sampler. The advantages of the new samplers are their simple design, low costs, and their easy processing via thermodesorption coupled with capillary gas chromatography and mass selective detection. In both samplers, the uptake of selected analytes was integrative over exposure periods of up to 384 h. The sampling rates calculated from a laboratory calibration study using the chlorinated semivolatiles hexachlorobenzene, hexachlorocyclohexane isomers and polychlorinated biphenyls ranged from 88.1 ml h-1 for delta-hexachlorocyclohexane to 3443 ml h-1 for 2,2',5,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl. A field trial at a hazardous waste dump near Bitterfeld, Germany, for up to 21 days combined with periodical determinations of air concentrations using low-volume sampling indicated that the new samplers can in principle be used in the field, although the sampling rates derived from the field results differed considerably from the laboratory findings. Nevertheless the preliminary results suggest that the new sampler types are promising for the long-term air monitoring of semivolatiles.