Wastewater and seawater monitoring in Antarctica: Passive sampling as a powerful strategy to evaluate emerging pollution.

The Ross Sea, among the least human-impacted marine environments worldwide, recently became the first marine protected area in Antarctica. To assess the impact of the Italian research station Mario Zucchelli (MZS) on the surrounding waters, passive sampling - as well as spot sampling for comparison - took place in the effluent of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and the receiving surface marine waters. Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers (POCIS) were deployed for six consecutive 2-week periods from November to February in a reservoir collecting the wastewater effluent.

Solvent-Free Determination of Selected Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Plant Material Used for Food Supplements Preparation: Optimization of a Solid Phase Microextraction Method.

The exploitation of waste and by-products in various applications is becoming a cornerstone of the circular economy. A range of biomasses can be employed to produce food supplements. An example is a particular extract obtained from plant buds (rich in bioactive molecules), which can be easily retrieved from cities' pruning.

A Review on Polyethersulfone Membranes in Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers: Preparation, Characterization and Innovation.

The membranes in polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) enclose the receiving sorbent and protect it from coming into direct contact with the environmental matrix. They have a crucial role in extending the kinetic regime of contaminant uptake, by slowing down their diffusion between the water phase and the receiving phase. The drive to improve passive sampling requires membranes with better design and enhanced performances.

An optimized processing method for polar organic chemical integrative samplers deployed in seawater: Toward a maximization of the analysis accuracy for trace emerging contaminants.

Passive sampling of emerging contaminants (ECs) in seawater represents a challenge in environmental monitoring. A specific protocol for Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler (POCIS) processing may be necessary when dealing with marine applications, due to the peculiarity of the considered matrix. Herein, both the instrumental LC-MS/MS analysis and the sampler processing for the determination of 22 ECs in seawater were carefully optimized.