DETECTION OF ATRAZINE IN HUNGARY BY IMMUNOANALYTICAL (ELISA) METHOD

Triazine herbicides (particularly atrazine) are intensively used in Hu ngary and present a class of pesticides of significant environmental p ersistence. To evaluate its environmental impact, a monitoring study f or atrazine residues utilizing available ELISA systems has been initia ted. In the present study an ELISA kit (EnviroGard Plate Kit) not yet introduced in Hungary and supplied by the US based company, Millipore, has been utilized to monitor the presence and decomposition of triazi nes in water and soil. As auxiliary techniques, three simple detection systems (TLC, photometry and biotests) were also applied. Soil and su rface water samples from agricultural areas and a natural reservoir ar ea in Hungary were analyzed for atrazine residues. Decomposition of at razine in water and soil were also monitored by the ELISA system. Deco mposition experiments in water indicated an initial rapid exponential decomposition rates (80 % within 10-12 days) followed by an apparently stable residue level. Short term decomposition of atrazine in soil fo llowed a similar pattern but with a significantly higher residue level (i.e. 60 % decrease from 0.7 ppm within 12 days in black soil).