For many years, an extensive array of chemometric methods have provided a platform upon which a quantitative description of environmental conditions can be obtained. Applying chemometric methods to environmental data allows us to identify and describe the interrelations between certain environmental drivers. They also provide an insight into the interrelationships between these drivers and afford us a greater understanding of the potential impact that these drivers can place upon the environment. However, an effective marriage of these two systems has not been performed. Therefore, it is the aim of this review to highlight the advantages of using chemometrics and sensors to identify hidden trends in environmental parameters, which allow the state of the environment to be effectively monitored. Despite the combination of chemometrics and sensors, to capture new developments and applications in the field of environmental sciences, these methods have not been extensively used. Importantly, although different parameters and monitoring procedures are required for different environments (e.g., air, water, soil), they are not distinct, separate entities. Contemporary developments in the use of chemometrics afford us the ability to predict changes in different aspects of the environment using instrumental methods. This review also provides an insight into the prevailing trends and the future of environmental sensing, highlighting that chemometrics can be used to enhance our ability to monitor the environment. This enhanced ability to monitor environmental conditions and to predict trends would be beneficial to government and research agencies in their ability to develop environmental policies and analysis procedures.
CONTENTS1. Introduction 6048 2. Monitoring for Environmental Policy 6049 2.1. Parameters Used to Monitor Environmental Levels 6051 2.1.1. Water Quality 6051 2.1.2. Sediments 6052 2.1.3. Soil 6053 2.1.4. Air and Atmospheric Monitoring 6053 3. Conventional Sampling Methods 6053 3.1. Sampling Methods for Different Environments 6054 3.1.1. Water Quality 6054 3.1.2. Soil 6055 4. Chemometrics and Sensors 6055 4.1. Air and Atmosphere 6062 4.2. Ideal Monitoring Requirements 6062 5. Current Trends 6062 6.