The use of spider webs in the monitoring of air quality-A review

Methods for using spider webs as passive air samplers have been developed over recent years and reported in more than a dozen articles. In this article, we present the typical procedures followed when using this new tool and critically review its application in air pollution assessment. To understand the state of research and application of spider webs in this field, we describe some advantages and disadvantages of their use in the analyses of air contaminants. The aim is to summarize the current knowledge on this subject, highlight gaps in the present studies, and arouse the interest of scientists on this issue. The increased effort could result in the standardization of the method at the national and international level. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;00:1-13. (c) 2021 SETAC

Automated summary

This article presents the methods and applications of using spider webs as passive air samplers and critically reviews their use in air pollution assessment. By describing the advantages and disadvantages of using spider webs for analyzing air contaminants, the article aims to summarize the current knowledge, identify research gaps, and stimulate scientific interest in this issue.