Rigorous protocols for using DGT and a demonstration of DGT’s effectiveness for monitoring a wide range of metals in a range of coastal waters are published by the eight partner organisations of this extensive EU-funded project.
P. Bersuder, I. Amouroux, M. J. Belzunce-Segarra, et al, Concurrent sampling of transitional and coastal waters by Diffusive Gradient in Thin-films (DGT) and spot sampling for trace metals analysis, MethodsX,
Volume 8, 2021,101462, ISSN 2215-0161,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mex.2021.101462.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2215016121002557)
In Monitool, a large EU programme, extensive DGT measurements were made in many coastal sites by 8 collaborating laboratories. Standard procedures were developed for laboratory steps prior to sampling campaigns, deployments in field campaigns (including in situ measurement of supporting parameters) and subsequent sample processing in the laboratory in preparation for trace metal analysis. The detailed protocols available here provide a systematic, coherent field sampling and sample preparation strategy.
J. G. Rodríguez, I. Amouroux, M. J. Belzunce-Segarra, et al, Assessing variability in the ratio of metal concentrations measured by DGT-type passive samplers and spot sampling in European seawaters, Sci. Tot. Environ., 783, 2021, 147001, ISSN 0048-9697,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147001.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969721020714)
This extensive multi-laboratory and -site study showed that the ratios of DGT measurements to spot sampled data were not significantly affected by temperature, salinity, pH, oxygen, DOC or SPM. Within a regulatory context such as the EU Water Framework Directive this is a great advantage, since the simplicity of not needing to use corrections to minimize the effects of environmental variables could help in implementing DGTs within monitoring networks.
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