Field studies on the use of coated porous polyurethane plugs as indwelling monitors of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyl contents of streams.

Abstract Field studies on the use of coated polyurethane foam plugs as indwelling water monitors and studies of the ability of such foams to quantitatively extract polychlorinated biphenyls, dieldrin and members of the DDT complex were carried out using waters of an industrial nature and agricultural nature. Recoveries of all spiked materials were generally in excess of 90%. Indwelling foams took from 24–48 hours to reach plateau values and from the levels of plateaus reached it is suggested that only the external surface of the porous plug is active. Use and reuse of plugs as well as extraction in the field is easily accomplished.