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The overall aim of this project was to increase Ireland’s capacity for the generation of integrated monitoring of biological effects and chemical measurement data and for the completion of a pilot scale assessment of the quality of the Irish marine environment at a number of selected locations., Sea Change Strategy with the support of the Marine Institute and the Marine Research Sub Programme of the National Development Plan 2007-2013, and funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

A collaborative project investigating the potential of passive sampling technologies and integrative sampling to meet chemical monitoring requirements of the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) in Ireland began in February 2013. Polar (POCIS) and non-­‐polar (silicon rubber) passive sampling, grab samples and biota samples are being collected at ten sites across Ireland over two years. The first five sites (Fig. 1) are taking a catchment approach. All samples will be tested for emerging and priority compounds listed in the Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) Directive (2008/105/EC) and its 2012 amendment.

The challenges of monitoring our waters for compliance with WFD and the expansion of the list of organic chemicals that are to be added for monitoring, provides impetus for investigation of alternative monitoring approaches such as passive sampling. The work being carried out represents an important collaboration between two research centres (DCU & MI) together with agency (EA UK and Inland Fisheries Ireland) and industry (TelLab) to assess the potential of passive sampling in monitoring priority pollutants in Ireland. This work is underpinned by a some studies carried out in Ireland already by the Marine Institute and a vast array of literature in the area of priority pollutant monitoring. The impact of this study may lie in the establishment of a capability to utilise passive sampling in the monitoring programme in Ireland for WFD. This project pilots the use of passive sampling technology (PDMS and POCIS) combined with biota monitoring to assess the presence of priority substances in Irish surface waters. The project focuses in particular on new pollutants earmarked as candidates for the Annex X priority substances list under the EU Water Framework Directive e.g. E2 and EE2, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, PFOS etc. This considers the implications for compliance with current and proposed EQS and investigates the potential for incorporating passive sampling and biota testing in future compliance, investigative and trend monitoring. Results of water, biota and passive sampling will be presented together with an outline of the project over the next 12 months. Keywords: passive sampling, surface waters, coastal waters, WFD.