SAMPLING, CLEAN-UP AND SEPARATION Evaluation of performance reference compounds in PUF passive air samplers at different wind speeds

ORGANOHALOGEN COMPOUNDS – Volume 66 (2004) 138 Introduction Polyurethane foam (PUF) samplers are being used in an increasing number of studies to passively sample semivolatile organic compounds (SOCs) in the atmosphere (e.g. 1, ). However, recent research shows that the uptake and loss kinetics of passive air samplers is influenced by changes in wind speed . According to theory, the rate of chemical exchange between the sampler and atmosphere can be limited by the thickness of the air-side boundary layer. If this is the case then an increase in wind speed can reduce the thickness of the boundary layer resulting in higher rates of exchange. The loss of performance reference compounds (PRCs) loaded into the sampler prior to deployment should reflect exposure to different wind speeds at different sites.