Pesticides are commonly used in urban areas for structural and landscape pest control. Pesticide use around structures and in landscapes has been linked to contamination of urban surface streams. Monitoring for low-level pesticide occurrence in surface water has been a great challenge. The traditional “grab” sampling approach is labor-intensive and offers spatially and temporally discrete measurements. Passive samplers rely on the use of an adsorbent to enrich trace organics from water over time, and when used properly, can provide spatially and temporally integrated concentrations while minimizing the input of time and other resources. We have evaluated different thin films for their ability to enrich pyrethroids and fipronil from water and compared their performance as passive samplers for <i>in situ</i> sampling of urban-use insecticides in surface water. Polyethylene (PE) film was found to be the best adsorbent for pyrethroids, while polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) film displayed the highest sensitivity for fipronil and its metabolites. Polyurethane (PU) film is compatible for both pyrethroids and fipronil. These passive samplers were tested under laboratory simulated conditions as well as at multiple field sites in southern California. The developed passive samplers may be used for detecting pyrethroids and fipronils at the part-per-trillion level and have clear advantages due to their applicability for integrated, in situ sampling and their ability to measure the bioavailable concentration.

Passive samplers for <i>in situ</i> monitoring of pesticides in urban surface water

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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Passive samplers for in situ monitoring of pesticides in urban surface water