Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Investigation of polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS) flow rate dependence for munition constituents in underwater environments

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Munition constituents (MC) are present in aquatic environments throughout the world. Potential for fluctuating release with low residence times may cause concentrations of MC to vary widely over time at contaminated sites. Recently, polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) have been demonstrated to be valuable tools for the environmental exposure assessment of MC in water. Flow rate is known to influence sampling by POCIS. Because POCIS sampling rates (Rs) for MC have only been determined under quasi-static conditions, the present study evaluated the uptake of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), RDX (hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine), and 2,4- and 2,6-dinitrotoluenes (DNT), by POCIS in a controlled water flume at 7, 15, and 30 cm/s in 10-day experiments using samplers both within and without a protective cage. Sampling rate increased with flow rate for all MC investigated, but flow rate had the strongest impact on TNT and the weakest impact on RDX. For uncaged POCIS, mean Rs for 30 cm/s was significantly higher than that for 7 cm by 2.7, 1.9, 1.9, and 1.3 folds for TNT, 2,4-DNT, 2,6-DNT, and RDX, respectively. For all MC except RDX, mean Rs for caged POCIS at 7 cm/s were significantly lower than for uncaged samplers and similar to those measured at quasi-static condition, but except for 2,6-DNT, no caging effect was measured at the highest flow rate, indicating that the impact of caging on Rs is flow rate-dependent. When flow rates are known, flow rate-specific Rs should be used for generating POCIS-derived time-averaged concentrations of MC at contaminated sites.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alvarez, D. A., Petty, J. D., Huckins, J. N., Jones-Lepp, T. L., Getting, D. T., Goddard, J. P., & Manahan, S. E. (2004). Development of a passive, in situ, integrative sampler for hydrophilic organic contaminants in aquatic environments. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 23, 1640–1648.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Amaral, H. I. F., Gama, A. C., Goncalves, C., Fernandes, J., Batista, M. J., & Abreu, M. (2016). Long-term TNT and DNT contamination: 1-D modeling of natural attenuation in the vadose zone: case study, Portugal. Environmental Earth Sciences, 75, 89.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arditsoglou, A., & Voutsa, D. (2008). Passive sampling of selected endocrine disrupting compounds using polar organic chemical integrative samplers. Environmental Pollution, 156, 316–324.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belden, J. B., Lotufo, G. R., Biedenbach, J. M., Sieve, K. K., & Rosen, G. (2015). Application of POCIS for exposure assessment of munitions constituents during constant and fluctuating exposure. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 34, 959–967.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carpinteiro, I., Schopfer, A., Estoppey, N., Fong, C., Grandjean, D., & de Alencastro, L. F. (2016). Evaluation of performance reference compounds (PRCs) to monitor emerging polar contaminants by polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) in rivers. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 408, 1067–1078.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carton, G., & Jagusiewicz, A. (2009). Historic disposal of munitions in US and European coastal waters, how historic information can be used in characterizing and managing risk. Marine Technology Society Journal, 43, 16–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cernoch, I., Franek, M., Diblikova, I., Hilscherova, K., Randak, T., Ocelka, T., & Blaha, L. (2011). Determination of atrazine in surface waters by combination of POCIS passive sampling and ELISA detection. Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 13, 2582–2587.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Charlestra, L., Amirbahman, A., Courtemanch, D. L., Alvarez, D. A., & Patterson, H. (2012). Estimating pesticide sampling rates by the polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS) in the presence of natural organic matter and varying hydrodynamic conditions. Environmental Pollution, 169, 98–104.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Di Carro, M., Bono, L., & Magi, E. (2014). A simple recirculating flow system for the calibration of polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS): effect of flow rate on different water pollutants. Talanta, 120, 30–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harman, C., Boyum, O., Thomas, K. V., & Grung, M. (2009). Small but different effect of fouling on the uptake rates of semipermeable membrane devices and polar organic chemical integrative samplers. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 28, 2324–2332.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harman, C., Allan, I. J., & Vermeirssen, E. L. M. (2012). Calibration and use of the polar organic chemical integrative sampler—a critical review. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 31, 2724–2738.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jacquet, R., Miege, C., Bados, P., Schiavone, S., & Coquery, M. (2012). Evaluating the polar organic chemical integrative sampler for the monitoring of beta-blockers and hormones in wastewater treatment plant effluents and receiving surface waters. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 31, 279–288.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Juhasz, A. L., & Naidu, R. (2007). Explosives: fate, dynamics, and ecological impact in terrestrial and marine environments. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 191, 163–215.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li, H. X., Vermeirssen, E. L. M., Helm, P. A., & Metcalfe, C. D. (2010). Controlled field evaluation of water flow rate effects on sampling polar organic compounds using polar organic chemical integrative samplers. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 29, 2461–2469.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lissalde, S., Mazzella, N., & Mazellier, P. (2014). Polar organic chemical integrative samplers for pesticides monitoring: impacts of field exposure conditions. Science of the Total Environment, 488, 188–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mazzella, N., Dubernet, J. F., & Delmas, F. (2007). Determination of kinetic and equilibrium regimes in the operation of polar organic chemical integrative samplers—application to the passive sampling of the polar herbicides in aquatic environments. Journal of Chromatography A, 1154, 42–51.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mazzella, N., Lissalde, S., Moreira, S., Delmas, F., Mazellier, P., & Huckins, J. N. (2010). Evaluation of the use of performance reference compounds in an Oasis-HLB adsorbent based passive sampler for improving water concentration estimates of polar herbicides in freshwater. Environmental Science and Technology, 44, 1713–1719.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monteil-Rivera, F., Halasz, A., Groom, C., Zhao, J. S., Thiboutot, S., Ampleman, G., & Hawari, J. (2009). Fate and transport of explosives in the environment. In G. I. Sunahara, G. R. Lotufo, R. G. Kuperman, & J. Hawari (Eds.), Ecotoxicology of explosives (pp. 5–33). Boca Raton: CRC Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morin, N., Miege, C., Randon, J., & Coquery, M. (2012). Chemical calibration, performance, validation and applications of the polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS) in aquatic environments. TrAC Trends Anal Chem, 36, 144–175.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Petty, J.D., Huckins, J.N., Alvarez, D.A. (2002) US Patent #6,478,961 – (November 12, 2002).

  • Rosen, G., Wild, B., George, R. D., Belden, J. B., & Lotufo, G. R. (2016). Optimization and field demonstration of a passive sampling technology for monitoring conventional munition constituents in aquatic environments. Marine Technology Society Journal, 50, 23–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soderstrom, M., Lindberg, R. H., & Fick, J. (2009). Strategies for monitoring the emerging polar organic contaminants in water with emphasis on integrative passive sampling. Journal of Chromatography A, 1216, 623–630.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sunahara, G. I., Lotufo, G. R., Kuperman, R. G., & Hawari, J. (2009). Ecotoxicology of explosives. Boca Raton: CRC Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Talmage, S. S., Opresko, D. M., Maxwell, C. J., Welsh, C. J., Cretella, F. M., Reno, P. H., & Daniel, F. B. (1999). Nitroaromatic munition compounds: environmental effects and screening values. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 161, 1–156.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vrana, B., Mills, G. A., Allan, I. J., Dominiak, E., Svensson, K., Knutsson, J., Morrison, G., & Greenwood, R. (2005). Passive sampling techniques for monitoring pollutants in water. TrAC, Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 24(10), 845–868.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). (2014a). Technical fact sheet–hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro- 1,3,5-triazine (RDX). EPA 505-F-14-008. Washington, DC: Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response 8 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). (2014b). Technical fact sheet–2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). EPA 505-F-14-009. Washington, DC: Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response 8 p.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The following have contributed to various portions of this research: Ms. Kristal K. Sieve and Dr. Shane A. Morrison (Oklahoma State University), Mr. Bryton K. Hixson, Mr. Charles X. Perniciaro, Ms. Sally C. Dillon, and Mr. Eric J. Glisch (U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center), and Ms. Marienne A. Colvin (U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific).

Funding

The U.S. Department of Defense’s Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP; Project #ER-201433) provided funding for this research.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Road, Vicksburg, MS, 39180, USA

    Guilherme R. Lotufo, Christa M. Woodley & David L. Smith

  2. U.S. Navy Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific, 53475 Strothe Rd., San Diego, CA, 92152, USA

    Robert D. George & Gunther Rosen

  3. Department of Zoology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

    Jason B. Belden

Authors
  1. Guilherme R. Lotufo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Robert D. George
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jason B. Belden
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Christa M. Woodley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. David L. Smith
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Gunther Rosen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guilherme R. Lotufo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lotufo, G.R., George, R.D., Belden, J.B. et al. Investigation of polar organic chemical integrative sampler (POCIS) flow rate dependence for munition constituents in underwater environments. Environ Monit Assess 190, 171 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6558-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-018-6558-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation