Twenty-Five Years of Research and Monitoring Using PUF Disk Passive Air Samplers

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Air Quality Monitoring

Background:

• Polyurethane foam (PUF) disk-based passive air samplers (PASs) have been crucial for over 25 years in monitoring persistent organic pollutants and emerging chemicals.
• Their low cost and ease of use enable widespread regional and global deployment for assessing air quality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize studies characterizing uptake rates and partition coefficients of PUF disks.
• To evaluate the design and performance of various PUF-PAS modifications, including SIP-PAS and PAS-DD samplers.
• To summarize the diverse applications of PUF-PAS, SIP-PAS, and PAS-DD from 2000 to 2024.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of approximately 650 publications from 2000 to 2024.
• Synthesis of data on compound uptake rates and partition coefficients for PUF disks.
• Analysis of sampler design modifications and performance evaluations.

Main Results:

• PUF-PAS, SIP-PAS, and PAS-DD have been applied across ambient air measurements, indoor air quality, source emissions, health studies, and biodiversity research.
• Characterization studies have established uptake rates and partition coefficients for a wide range of compounds.
• The use and diversification of PUF disk-based PASs have shown a significant increasing trend.

Conclusions:

• PUF disk-based passive air samplers are versatile and evolving tools for environmental monitoring.
• Continued innovation and integration of PUF-PAS technologies are expected to inform scientific research and policy-making.
• The expanding applications highlight the enduring importance of PUF-PAS in understanding chemical exposure and environmental impact.