DEVELOPMENT OF AN ELISA FOR THE N-DEALKYLATED S-TRIAZINES - APPLICATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL AND BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES

A sensitive and rugged ELISA for the detection of the N-dealkylated me tabolites of atrazine and simazine was developed and applied to enviro nmental and biological samples. The limits of detection were approxima tely 10 ng ml(-1) for water samples, 40 ng ml(-1) for human urine when analyzed without any sample preparation and approximately 45 ng g(-1) for solvent-extracted soil. This assay was tolerant to changes in pH salt and solvent effects. Comparison of the results from this ELISA wi th nominal values for a series of tap water samples spiked in a blind fashion resulted in a good correlation coefficient between the values found and those spiked. However, the ELISA systematically underestimat ed concentrations. Examination of the source of this error revealed th at the dealkylated triazine concentrations of the samples declined wit h time. The assay was used to monitor the presence and loss of dealkyl ated triazines in a variety of samples. These data indicated that caut ion must be used in the analysis and interpretation of the presence of these N-dealkylated metabolites.