Evaluation of Passive Air Sampling for Monitoring Current-Use Pesticide Pollution near Large-Scale Banana Plantations in Costa Rica
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Passive air sampling (PAS) using polyurethane foam (PUF) disks has been used to monitor air contamination from current-use pesticides (CUPs). However, its accuracy has hardly been studied. To assess effectiveness of PUF–PAS for measuring CUPs, 18 PUF–PAS devices were deployed for 1–6 weeks at a school near banana plantations in Costa Rica. Simultaneously, every week air was sampled with high and low volume active air samplers (AAS) for 24 h and 7 days, respectively. Extracts were analyzed using microwave-assisted extraction and LC-MS/MS. Nine CUPs (ethoprophos, difenoconazole, cadusafos, chlorpyrifos, fenpropidin, fenpropimorph, pyrimethanil, spiroxamine, and terbufos) were detected by both PAS and AAS. Concentrations were highest for pyrimethanil (34.3 ng/m 3 ) followed by fenpropidin (9.0 ng/m 3 ) and terbufos (8.4 ng/m 3 ). An average sampling rate of 3.4 m 3 /day was estimated for PUF–PAS using Lo-AAS data, like previously reported in literature. After 3 weeks of deployment, PUF–PAS detected eight out of nine pesticides, similar to the AAS methods. However, after 4 weeks of deployment, substantial losses (≥50%) were observed for all CUPs except pyrimethanil, likely due to oxidative degradation. We therefore recommend a maximum deployment time of 3 weeks under tropical conditions. These findings support PUF–PAS as a cost-effective alternative for AAS in tropical regions.
Language: English
Subfield: Pollution
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
OpenAlex ID: W7125427747