APPLICATION OF AN AUTOMATED QUASI-CONTINUOUS IMMUNOFLOW INJECTION SYSTEM TO THE ANALYSIS OF PESTICIDE-RESIDUES IN ENVIRONMENTAL WATER SAMPLES

The application and validation of an optimized immuno flow injection system for the sensitive analysis of pesticides is described with the determination of trace levels of atrazine in environmental water samples as a representative example. The range of detection for atrazine analysis lies between approximately 30 ng/l and 1 mug/l. The mid-point of the assay is found at 100 ng/l atrazine, i.e. exactly the maximum concentration permitted by the EC guidelines for drinking water and the drinking water ordinance of Germany, respectively. The flow injection immuno analysis (FIIA) does not require concentration or clean-up steps for water samples. The FIIA results were compared to data obtained from a respective enzyme immunoassay and GC or HPLC results. The correlation suffices to use the FIIA as an alarm station for the control of water samples, with regard to the upper limit for pesticides in drinking water prescribed by the EC guidelines.