[Water matrices samples: pre-concentration problems and methodologies for ecotoxicological assessment of fresh...

Biological monitoring and ecotoxicological investigation are research methods for water quality assessment included in the Italian regulation in force (DL.vo 152/99). Biological monitoring must be applied in every case while ecotoxicological investigation is not mandatory. While extended biotic index application methodologies are standardized, pre-concentration sample procedures applied for ecotoxicological investigation are not, because they are applied as research only. Pre-concentration for organic micro-pollutants can be carried out both by means of organic solvents and through SPE (solid phase extraction), being the latter more advantageous than the former. In any case, an intercalibration exercise should be undertaken to assess the applicability of the proposed procedure to all the national territory.