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This Technical Specification describes a procedure for the use of the passive samplers Sigma-2 and PMF to sample airborne pollen. Both are designed to sample coarse aerosol particles. Collected samples are used to analyse pollen input with regard to pollen type and amount, and input of transgenic pollen. The Sigma-2 passive sampler here provides a standardized sampling method for direct microscopic pollen analysis and quantifying the input of airborne pollen at the site. The PMF yields sufficient amounts of pollen to additionally carry out molecular-biological diagnostics for detection of GMO.

Essential background information on performing GMO monitoring is given in VDI/Guideline 4330 Part 1 [4], which is based on an integrated assessment of temporal and spatial variation of GMO cultivation (sources of GMO), the exposure in the environment and biological/ecological effects. Ideally, the pollen sampling using technical samplers for GMO monitoring should be undertaken in combination with the biological collection of pollen by bees (CEN/TS 16817-2).

The application of technical passive samplers and the use of honey bee colonies as active biological collectors complement each other in a manifold way when monitoring the exposure to GMO pollen. Technical samplers provide results regarding the pollen input at the sampling site in a representative way, whereas with biological sampling by honey bee colonies, pollen from flowering plants in the area is collected according to the bees' collection activity. Thus, this method represents GMO exposure to roaming insects. By combining the two sampling methods these two main principles of exposure are represented. Furthermore, a broad range of pollen species is covered.

The sample design depends on the intended sampling objective. Some examples are given in 6.2.