Rapid characterization of pesticide residues in contaminated soils by passive sampling devices

Abstract

Abstract Waste sites contain a wide variety of toxic compounds that can vary greatly in concentration and distribution throughout an area This presents logistical problems in providing an accurate characterization of the site Passive sampling devices (PSDs), which consist of polymeric bags containing 2,2,4-trimethylpentane, C18 bonded-phase silica sorbent, or XAD-4 resin, are easily deployed by burying in soil They require no power source, and only a simple extraction or dilution before GC analysis As a result, personnel time and study costs are minimized These PSDs were evaluated in both lab and field studies using pesticide wastes as a model Although the 2,2,4-trimethylpentane PSDs accumulated the pesticides to the highest level, they were subject to solvent loss, making them unacceptable for use in soils C18 and XAD-4 PSDs were similar in their abilities to accumulate the pesticides Of these two, the C18 PSDs were easier and faster to analyze