Using semi-permeable membrane devices as passive samplers

We discuss the present state of, and future developments in, using semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) for environmental monitoring of organic pollutants. SPMDs allow the determination of time-weighted average concentrations of bioavailable pollutants in the sampled media, reducing significantly the costs of analysis compared with active samplers.We summarize developments in SPMDs, including simplified devices and devices modified by incorporating solvents other than triolein, and applications.We review contaminants (e.g., organotin compounds, polycyclic musk, triclosan, petroleum biomarkers, nitrated PAHs, polychlorinated naphthalenes and a wide range of pesticides sampled in water) and, especially, developments for controlling air pollution.We also pay special attention to the analytical control of retained compounds, considering their extraction from SPMDs, and the clean up and analysis of the extracts.