Abstract:
Application of passive samplers is demonstrated for assessment of temporal and spatial trends of dissolved
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and priority metals in
the middle stretch of the Danube river. Free dissolved concentrations of PAHs, measured using SPMD
samplers, ranged from 5 to 72 ng L
. Dissolved PCBs in water were very low and they ranged from 5 to
16 pg L
1
1
. Concentration of mercury, cadmium, lead and nickel, measured using DGT samplers, were
relatively constant along the monitored Danube stretch and in the range <
0.1, <
1e20, 18e74, and 173
e544 ng L
Keywords:
Danube
Free dissolved concentration
Persistent organic pollutants
Metals
Passive sampling
, respectively. Concentrations of PAHs decreased with increasing temperature, which reflects
the seasonality in emissions to water. This has an implication for the design of future monitoring programs
aimed at assessment of long term trends. For such analysis time series should be constructed of
data from samples collected always in the same season of the year.
