MONITOOL project analyses its winter samples and obtains their first results
MONITOOL Project has finished its first sampling campaign, carried out between January and March 2018, along the whole European Atlantic Area and represented by more than 30 sampling locations, both coastal and transitional. The campaign has consisted of deployments of DGT devices, alongside spot sampling and physicochemical parameter measurement by all partners (following the same protocols). Currently, the analyses of the collected samples are almost finished. The MONITOOL Project has minimised variation between laboratories by sending all samples for analysis for designated purposes to a chosen laboratory.
- Triplicate and blank DGT devices are sent to IFREMER where the resin layer is isolated and the metals are extracted and analysed by an ICP-MS;
- Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) is responsible for the analysis of the priority metals Cd, Pb and Ni in spot water samples by Voltammetry (labile fraction);
- IPMA is in charge for the determination of dissolved trace metals in water by means of a seaFAST equipment coupled to an ICP-MS to pre-concentrate trace metals.
With all the results, AZTI is in charge of carrying out the statistical analysis to relate metal concentrations in DGTs with spot water samples (dissolved and labile).
Additionally, DCU is carrying out a biofouling study on the systems installed during MONITOOL campaigns as an interesting complement to the metal data to characterise the fouling environment.
Furthermore, with the lessons learned from the first campaign, the dry sampling campaign is taking place at this moment (between May and September 2018); The next partner meeting will be held in San Sebastián (Pais Vasco, Spain) on 9th and 10th October; The MONITOOL interlaboratory exercise is scheduled for late November, 2018.
