Appraisal on the role of passive sampling for more integrative frameworks on the environmental risk assessment of contaminants

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2023-05, Vol.324, p.138352-138352, Article 138352
• Main Authors: Macías, Mariana, Jiménez, Jesús A., Rodríguez de San Miguel, Eduardo, Moreira-Santos, Matilde
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ecosystem; Ecotoxicology; Environmental Monitoring; ERA; Integrative approach; Line of evidence; Passive sampling; Reproducibility of Results; Risk Assessment; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138352

Over time multiple lines of research have been integrated as important components of evidence for assessing the ecological quality status of water bodies within the framework of Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) approaches. One of the most used integrative approaches is the triad which combines, based on the weight-of-evidence, three lines of research, the chemical (to identify what is causing the effect), the ecological (to identify the effects at the ecosystem level) and the ecotoxicological (to ascertain the causes of ecological damage), with the agreement between the different lines of risk evidence increasing the confidence in the management decisions. Although the triad approach has proven greatly strategic in ERA processes, new assessment (and monitoring) integrative and effective tools are most welcome. In this regard, the present study is an appraisal on the boost that passive sampling, by allowing to increase information reliability, can give within each of the triad lines of evidence, for more integrative ERA frameworks. In parallel to this appraisal, examples of works that used passive samplers within the triad are presented providing support for the use of these devices in a complementary form to generate holistic information for ERA and ease the process of decision-making. [Display omitted] •Integrating passive sampling within the ERA framework is promising.•The incorporation of passive sampling into each line of evidence (LoE) is discussed.•A more integrative and holistic form to obtain information is attained.•Passive samplers are combined with models, bioassays, biomarkers, and indexes.