Chapter 17
Luminescence for the Analysis of Organic Compounds
in Natural Waters
A. Roda . P. Pasini . M. Guardigli
17.1
Introduction
Many widely used synthetic chemicals, as well as industrial by-products, are continuously emitted into the environment. Even if present in low quantities, some of these
substances or their degradation products represent a threat for the health of humans
and wildlife. Sometimes they accumulate in living organisms and target organs
(bioaccumulation) so that their concentrations increase along the food chain. Natural
waters (rivers, lakes, seas, and ground waters) are among the most endangered environments, since in many cases these substances are directly released in them. Moreover, natural waters represent an important way by which pollutants travel along long
distances. Molecules with low water solubility, i.e. with high lipophilicity (pesticides,
aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives, surfactants, oestrogen-like compounds,
etc.) could be present in the particulate matter of fresh and marine water. The analysis of organic compounds in natural waters is therefore of crucial importance in the
monitoring of pollution and in risk assessing for humans and environment. This requires rapid and sensitive analytical procedures for the detection of organic pollutants that should be suitable for performing screening analysis of a large number of
samples.
Separative chromatographic and hyphenated techniques (such as GC-MS and
HPLC-MS) are the most diffused conventional analytical procedures used for the analysis of organic compounds in environmental samples. However, these analytical procedures always require sample preparations, even in the case of environmental matrices as simple as drinking water. Sample preparations are frequently time-consuming,
and due to the numerous and sometimes complicated processes involved, errors and
sample losses are most likely to occur in this step. In addition, extraction of samples
for chromatographic analysis usually requires the use of organic solvents, which frequently poses problems in handling, storage and disposal. A further disadvantage of
these techniques is that they are not generally suitable for performing parallel analysis of a large number of samples.
17.2
Immunoassays in Environmental Analysis
In recent years, the expansion of immunochemical detection methods moved beyond
the clinical diagnostic field to applications in environmental monitoring. Nowadays,
immunoassay is a widely-used analytical method for the detection and quantitation
of environmental pollutants. Immunochemical analytical methods have gained favour
Luminescence for the Analysis of Organic Compounds
in Natural Waters
A. Roda . P. Pasini . M. Guardigli
17.1
Introduction
Many widely used synthetic chemicals, as well as industrial by-products, are continuously emitted into the environment. Even if present in low quantities, some of these
substances or their degradation products represent a threat for the health of humans
and wildlife. Sometimes they accumulate in living organisms and target organs
(bioaccumulation) so that their concentrations increase along the food chain. Natural
waters (rivers, lakes, seas, and ground waters) are among the most endangered environments, since in many cases these substances are directly released in them. Moreover, natural waters represent an important way by which pollutants travel along long
distances. Molecules with low water solubility, i.e. with high lipophilicity (pesticides,
aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives, surfactants, oestrogen-like compounds,
etc.) could be present in the particulate matter of fresh and marine water. The analysis of organic compounds in natural waters is therefore of crucial importance in the
monitoring of pollution and in risk assessing for humans and environment. This requires rapid and sensitive analytical procedures for the detection of organic pollutants that should be suitable for performing screening analysis of a large number of
samples.
Separative chromatographic and hyphenated techniques (such as GC-MS and
HPLC-MS) are the most diffused conventional analytical procedures used for the analysis of organic compounds in environmental samples. However, these analytical procedures always require sample preparations, even in the case of environmental matrices as simple as drinking water. Sample preparations are frequently time-consuming,
and due to the numerous and sometimes complicated processes involved, errors and
sample losses are most likely to occur in this step. In addition, extraction of samples
for chromatographic analysis usually requires the use of organic solvents, which frequently poses problems in handling, storage and disposal. A further disadvantage of
these techniques is that they are not generally suitable for performing parallel analysis of a large number of samples.
17.2
Immunoassays in Environmental Analysis
In recent years, the expansion of immunochemical detection methods moved beyond
the clinical diagnostic field to applications in environmental monitoring. Nowadays,
immunoassay is a widely-used analytical method for the detection and quantitation
of environmental pollutants. Immunochemical analytical methods have gained favour