A sensitive immunoassay based on direct hapten coated format and biotin-streptavidin system for the detection of chloramphenicol

A novel enzyme liked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of chloramphenicol (CAP). In this assay, the small molecular hapten (Hap) was directly coated on the surface of microtiter plates and biotin-streptavidin system (BSAS) was employed to improve the sensitivity of immunoassay (BSAS-direct Hap coated ELISA). The surface of microtiter plates was treated with glutaraldehyde (GA) polymer network to introduce aldehyde group, which was used to cross-link with amino group of CAP. Compared with conventional ELISA (the plates were coated with Hap-carrier protein conjugates), the modified plates presented significantly high antibody and antigen (Ab-Ag) affinity and showed excellent stability. And then the biotinylated monoclonal antibody (mAb) and HRP-labeled streptavidin were employed in this assay for amplification of signals. The sensitivity of BSAS-direct Hap coated ELISA was increased by approximately 20-folds and the stability was also improved greatly compared to conventional ELISA. Its 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) for CAP was 10.5 ng mL⁻¹ and the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.2 ng mL⁻¹ after optimization of reaction conditions. To our knowledge, this was one of the most sensitive immunoassay for CAP yet reported. In sample analysis, the results of CAP detected by this assay were in accordance with which obtained by conventional ELISA and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Therefore, it is an attractive alternative compared to conventional immunoassays in routine supervision for residue detection in food and environment.     

Development and evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method for the measurement of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in human urine

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was developed to quantitatively measure 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in human urine. Samples were diluted (1:5) with phosphate-buffered saline containing 0.05% Tween and 0.02% sodium azide, with analysis by a 96-microwell plate immunoassay format. No clean up was required as dilution step minimized sample interferences. Fifty urine samples were received without identifiers from a subset of pesticide applicators and their spouses in an EPA pesticide exposure study (PES) and analyzed by the ELISA method and a conventional gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) procedure. For the GC/MS analysis, urine samples were extracted with acidic dichloromethane (DCM); methylated by diazomethane and fractionated by a Florisil solid phase extraction (SPE) column prior to GC/MS detection. The percent relative standard deviation (%R.S.D.) of the 96-microwell plate triplicate assays ranged from 1.2 to 22% for the urine samples. Day-to-day variation of the assay results was within ±20%. Quantitative recoveries (>70%) of 2,4-D were obtained for the spiked urine samples by the ELISA method. Quantitative recoveries (>80%) of 2,4-D were also obtained for these samples by the GC/MS procedure. The overall method precision of these samples was within ±20% for both the ELISA and GC/MS methods. The estimated quantification limit for 2,4-D in urine was 30 ng/mL by ELISA and 0.2 ng/mL by GC/MS. A higher quantification limit for the ELISA method is partly due to the requirement of a 1:5 dilution to remove the urine sample matrix effect. The GC/MS method can accommodate a 10:1 concentration factor (10 mL of urine converted into 1 mL organic solvent for analysis) but requires extraction, methylation and clean up on a solid phase column. The immunoassay and GC/MS data were highly correlated, with a correlation coefficient of 0.94 and a slope of 1.00. Favorable results between the two methods were achieved despite the vast differences in sample preparation. Results indicated that the ELISA method could be used as a high throughput, quantitative monitoring tool for human urine samples to identify individuals with exposure to 2,4-D above the typical background levels.     

Chromatographic characterisation, under highly aqueous conditions, of a molecularly imprinted polymer binding the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

The affinity of a 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP), which was synthesised directly in an aqueous organic solvent, for its template (2,4-D) was studied and compared with the affinity exhibited by two other reference (control) polymers, NIPA and NIPB, for the same analyte. Zonal chromatography was performed to establish the optimal selectivity, expressed as imprinting factor (IF), under chromatographic conditions more aqueous than those described so far in the literature. Frontal analysis (FA) was performed on columns packed with these polymers, using an optimized mobile phase composed of methanol/phosphate buffer (50/50, v/v), to extract adsorption isotherm data and retrieve binding parameters from the best isotherm model. Surprisingly, the template had comparable and strong affinity for both MIP (K = 3.8 × 10⁴ M⁻¹) and NIPA (K = 1.9 × 10⁴ M⁻¹), although there was a marked difference in the saturation capacities of selective and non-selective sites, as one would expect for an imprinted polymer. NIPB acts as a true control polymer in the sense that it has relatively low affinity for the template (K = 8.0 × 10² M⁻¹). This work provides the first frontal chromatographic characterization of such a polymer in a water-rich environment over a wide concentration range. The significance of this work stems from the fact that the chromatographic approach used is generic and can be applied readily to other analytes, but also because there is an increasing demand for well-characterised imprinted materials that function effectively in aqueous media and are thus well-suited for analytical science applications involving, for example, biofluids and environmental water samples.     

Differential pulse polarography of some herbicides derived from 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

Summary A method has been developed for the differential pulse polarographic determination of 2,4-D, 2,4-DP, MCPA and MCPP residues in irrigation waters. The method involves a chloroform extraction of acidified water samples, back extraction into alkali solution and a further extraction of the acidified residue into chloroform. Subsequently, the residues are nitrated and the herbicide concentration is determined by differential pulse polarography. The determination limits of the method were found to be 30 g/l for 2,4-D and MCPA and 40 g/l for 2,4-DP and MCPP.

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Differential-Puls-Polarographie einiger von 2,4-Dichlorphenoxyessigsäure abgeleiteter HerbicideII. Bestimmung von Herbicidrückständen in Berieselungswasser

Zusammenfassung Ein Verfahren wurde ausgearbeitet zur Bestimmung von 2,4-D, 2,4-DP, MCPA und MCPP in Berieselungswasser. Die Methode umfaßt eine Chloroformextraktion der angesäuerten Probe, Rückextraktion in alkalische Lösung, erneute Chloroformextraktion der wieder angesäuerten Lösung, Nitrierung und anschließende puls-polarographische Bestimmung. Noch 30 g/l 2,4-D und MCPA sowie 40 g/l 2,4-DP und MCPP können erfaßt werden.

Dedicated to Prof. Dr. E. Blasius on his 60th birthday     

Gold nanoparticles catalyzed chemiluminescence immunoassay for detection of herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

We present a novel immunoassay format utilizing the catalytic properties of gold nanoparticles in the luminol-silver nitrate-gold nanoparticle based chemiluminescence (CL) system for the detection of widely used herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). Highly sensitive anti-2,4-D antibody was produced and conjugated with gold nanoparticles of various sizes. In the present assay format, employing a competitive inhibition approach, a well-characterized hapten-protein conjugate (2,4-D-BSA) was used to coat the microtiter plates. The analyte (2,4-D) was pre-incubated with anti-2,4-D antibody labeled with gold nanoparticles and added to each well of the microtiter plate. The gold label triggered the reaction between luminol and silver nitrate generating a luminescence signal at 425 nm. Under the optimized conditions, the CL based immunoassay showed the detection limit of 2,4-D in standard water samples around 3 ng mL(-1). The CL based immunoassay format, based on gold nanoparticles as a catalyst, could be used as a fast screening methodology (<30 min) for pesticide detection.     

2,4-二氯苯氧基乙酸的光转化化学发光机理研究

实验发现,2,4-二氯苯氧基乙酸(2,4-D)经紫外光转化后与KMnO4在H2SO4介质中反应可产生化学发光。采用液相色谱-质谱联用技术(LC-MS)对2,4-D光降解产物进行分析,推断光降解主要生成了多酚类降解产物,如2-氯对苯二酚(CHQ)和4-氯邻苯二酚等。化学发光光谱研究发现,2,4-D经紫外光转化后,与KMnO4反应的发光波长为690 nm,与2,4-D的典型降解产物CHQ的化学发光光谱一致。此发光现象是氧化还原过程中生成的Mn?吸收反应所释放出的化学能成为激发态,再返回基态时产生的特征辐射峰。该反应体系可用于2,4-D的检测,当2,4-D浓度在0.01～10 mg/L范围内与发光强度呈良好的线性关系;检出限为3.0μg/L。     

Modeling of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid controlled-release kinetics from lignin-based formulations

The second Fick’s law of diffusion, considering boundary conditions that at both slab faces the concentration of herbicide is equal to zero (sink conditions), has been adequate to describe our kinetic data obtained from experiments on 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, (2,4-D) released from lignin-based formulations in a water static bath system. However, the same model proved to be invalid in describing the experimental data obtained with ametryn (2-ethylamino-4-isopropylamino-6-methylthio-1,3,5-triazine) and diuron (3-[3,4-dichlorophenyl]-1,1-dimethylurea) formulations in a water dynamic bath system. For ametryn and diuron formulations, because of the lower aqueous solubility of these herbicides, it was necessary to model a stagnant film at the formulation surface to describe better the release kinetics because the model incorporating sink conditions is insufficient. This study presents a new mathematical modeling of experimental data obtained with 2,4-D formulations in a water static bath system. The new model incorporates a stagnant film as the boundary condition at the formulation surface, and its diffusion coefficient value is more precise than the one estimated by the model employing sink conditions.     

Rapid immunoanalytical method for the determination of atrazine residues in olive oil

A sensitive, simple and reliable method has been developed for the determination of atrazine in extra virgin olive oil. The analytical procedure involves direct extraction of the target analyte from oil matrix with methanol and a freezing clean-up step (–80 °C) followed by plate or sensor immunoassay determination. A detection limit of 0.7 ng/mL, with a dynamic range from 1.0 to 10.4 ng/mL, was reached. The method was highly selective for atrazine and propazine, showing little or no cross-reactivity to other similar compounds. The excellent recoveries obtained (mean value 91.3%) confirm the potential of this approach to detect atrazine in olive oil for application as screening and complementary method in pesticide regulatory and food safety programs. The proposed method correlates well with the reference gas chromatography (GC-MS) technique.     

Lead(II) and cadmium(II) compounds with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4D) and 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-propionic acid (2,4DP): Synthesis and properties

The paper presents the conditions under which compounds of the commercial herbicides, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4D; C₈H₆O₃Cl₂) and 2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-propionic acid (2,4DP; C₉H₈O₃Cl₂), with lead(II) and cadmium(II) are formed and the results of the examination of their properties.On the basis of the elemental analysis and Pb and Cd determination, the following molecular formulae for the obtained compounds were proposed: Pb(C₈H₅O₃Cl₂)₂.H₂O, Cd(C₈H₅O₃Cl₂)₂.₂H₂O, Pb(C₉H₇O₃Cl₂)2·H₂O and Cd(C₉H₇O₃Cl₂)₂·H₂O. Water solubility of the synthesized complexes at room temperature was examined. X-ray powder analysis was carried out. The discussion of IR spectra and conductivity data is presented. Thermal decomposition of these compounds in air was studied by TG/MS methods.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Immunoaffinity chromatographic method for the detection of pesticides

An immunoaffinity chromatographic (IC) method for the determination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and atrazine was developed. The sensitivity was 1 and 0.1 μg l⁻¹ for 2,4-D and atrazine, respectively, the relative standard deviation was in the range 3–8% and the total assay time per samples was 10 min. IC was combined with three detection systems: spectrophotometric, chemiluminescence and fluorescence. The whole procedure can be fully automated and applied to the quasi-continuous control of pesticide contamination and a rapid assay under out-of-laboratory conditions.     

Micellar-enhanced photochemically induced fluorescence detection of chlorophenoxyacid herbicides. Flow injection analysis of mecoprop and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid

In this paper, a combination of a flow injection analysis (FIA) system with micellar-enhanced photochemically induced fluorescence (MEPIF) detection is presented as a powerful alternative for the rapid and sensitive analysis of chlorophenoxyacid herbicides. These compounds do not show native fluorescence but they can be photolysed into strongly fluorescence photoproducts after direct irradiation with ultraviolet light. The use of a cationic surfactant such as cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) provides a considerable enhancement of photochemically induced fluorescence intensity and the nature of the technique allows a possible and easy adaptation to a FIA system. In this sense, parameters related to the nature of the analytical signal (pH, irradiation times, surfactant concentration) and to the FIA manifold (injection volume, flow rate and reactor length) have been optimised. Linear calibration graphs, with three replicates for each concentration value were established in the range of 0.2-5.0 mug ml(-1) for 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 0.1-5.0 mug ml(-1) for Mecoprop (MCPP). The IUPAC detection limits were 73.2 and 33.5 ng ml(-1) for 2,4-D and MCPP, respectively. Satisfactory recoveries were obtained in the analysis of these herbicides in spiked waters.     

Direct electrochemical oxidation of a pesticide, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid,at the surface of a graphite felt electrode: Biodegradability improvement

Pesticides’ biorecalcitrance can be related to the presence of a complex aromatic chains or of specific bonds, such as halogenated bonds, which are the most widespread. In order to treat this pollution at its source, namely in the case of highly concentrated solutions, selective processes, such as electrochemical processes, can appear especially relevant to avoid the possible generation of toxic degradation products and to improve biodegradability in view of a subsequent biological mineralization. 2,4-D was found to be electroactive in oxidation, but not in reduction, and the absence of hydroxyl radicals formation during the electrochemical step was demonstrated, showing that the pretreatment can be considered as a “direct” electrochemical process instead of an advanced electrochemical oxidation process. The presence of several degradation products in the oxidized effluent showed that the pretreatment was not as selective as expected. However, the relevance of the proposed combined process was confirmed since the overall mineralization yield was close to 93%.     

Conductometric tyrosinase biosensor for the detection of diuron, atrazine and its main metabolites

The determination of diuron, atrazine, desisopropylatrazine (DIA) and desethylatrazine (DEA) were investigated using conductometric tyrosinase biosensor. Tyrosinase was immobilised on the biosensor sensitive part by allowing it to mix with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and then cross-linking in saturated glutaraldehyde (GA) vapour for 30 min. The determination of pollutants in a solution was performed by comparison of the output signal (i.e percentage of the enzymatic activity) of the biosensor before and after contact with pollutants. The measurement of the enzymatic activity was performed using 4-chlorophenol, phenol and catechol substrates and response times ranging from 1 to 5 min were observed. A 4-chlorophenol substrate was used to detect pesticides. A 30 min contact time of the biosensor in the pollutant solution was used. Under the experimental conditions employed, detection limits for diuron and atrazine were about 1 ppb and dynamic range of 2.3-2330 and 2.15-2150 ppb were obtained for diuron and atrazine, respectively. A relative standard deviation (n=3) of the output signal was estimated to be 5% and a slight drift of 1.5 μS h⁻¹ was observed. The 90% of the enzyme activity was still maintained after 23 days of storage in a buffer solution at 4 °C.     

An impedance immunosensor for the detection of the phytohormone abscisic acid

The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) is the major player in mediating the adaptation of plants to stress. Previously developed phytohormonal biosensors usually employed indirect detection of the products of conjugated oxidase reactions. A label-free electrochemical impedance immunosensor for ABA detection was developed using an anti-ABA antibody adsorbed directly on a porous nanogold film. The film was produced electrochemically on a glassy carbon electrode in 0.008 mol/L hydrogen tetrachloroaurate solution containing 0.004 mol/L lead acetate with an applied potential of −0.5 V (versus Ag/AgCl) for 50 s. The anti-ABA antibody was immobilized onto the porous nanogold through electrostatic adsorption and covalent conjugation. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to characterize the successful construction of the porous nanogold film and the stepwise modification of the glassy carbon electrode. The concentration increase of the antigen brought about a decrease of the interfacial electron transfer, which also meant an increase of the impedance signal. The experimental parameters pH, antibody incubation time, and antibody concentration were optimized. The results showed significant linearity R = 0.9942, with the content of ABA in the range 0.5–5,000 ng/mL with a detection limit at about 0.1 ng/mL.     

An immunoassay for bisphenol A based on direct hapten conjugation to the polystyrene surface of microtiter plates

Based on direct hapten coated format a competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ciELISA) for bisphenol A (BPA) was developed. Polystyrene surface was modified by 3-Aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) to produce amino groups after H₂SO₄/HNO₃-pre-treatment. 4,4-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) valeric acid (BVA) which is analogue of BPA, was successfully immobilized on the surface of microtiter plates by N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) method. The essential steps of the assay were optimized, especially blocking procedure which is key step to prevent unspecific binding of antibody. The results indicated that compared with hapten-protein coated format (IC₅₀ = 176.67 ng ml⁻¹, LOD = 15.90 ng ml⁻¹), the direct hapten coated format (IC₅₀ = 23.50 ng ml⁻¹, LOD = 0.27 ng ml⁻¹) could improve assay sensitivity and the detection ranges were 2.30 ng∼157.60 ng ml⁻¹ with good signal reproducibility (P value > 0.05) after careful optimization of assay conditions. Tap water samples and seawater samples were spiked with a known amount of BPA and measured by ciELISA. The average recoveries were between 70 and 142%. As far as we are aware this is the most sensitive ELISA for BPA yet reported.     

Dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid using biochar-supported nano-palladium/iron: Preparation,characterization, and influencing factors

In the present study, peanut shell, a green waste raw material, was used to prepare biochar (BC) and to obtain BC-supported nano-palladium/iron (BC-nPd/Fe) composites for removing 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from water. Characterization analysis demonstrated that nPd/Fe particles were well dispersed on the BC surface with weakened magnetic properties. The average particle diameter and specific surface area of nPd/Fe were 101.3 nm and 6.7 m² g⁻¹, whereas the corresponding values of the BC-nPd/Fe materials were 88.8 nm and 14.8 m² g⁻¹, respectively. Several factors were found to influence the dechlorination of 2,4-D, including the weight ratio of BC to Fe, Pd loading ratio, initial solution pH, 2,4-D concentration, and reaction temperature. Dechlorination results indicated that the 2,4-D removal and phenoxyacetic acid (PA) generation rates were 44.1% and 20.1%, respectively, in the nPd/Fe system, and 100.0% and 92.1%, respectively, in the BC-nPd/Fe system. The dechlorination of 2,4-D was well described by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model (R² > 0.97), and the observed rate constants k_obs were 0.0042 min (nPd/Fe) and 0.0578 min (BC-nPd/Fe), respectively. The reaction mechanism indicated that the dechlorination hydrogenation was the main process to remove 2,4-D from water in the BC-nPd/Fe system. In addition, BC inhibited the formation of a passivation layer on the particle surface during the reaction, thus maintaining the high reactivity of BC-nPd/Fe. The easy preparation technique, high 2,4-D dechlorination capacity, and mild reaction conditions suggest that BC-nPd/Fe may be a promising alternative composite to remove 2,4-D from water.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of lanthanide complexes with foliage growth regulator: phenoxyalkanoic acid

Reactions of Ln(ClO₄)₃?·?6H₂O (Ln=La(III), Eu(III), Nd(III)), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and phenoxyacetic acid (PA) or 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) yield [La(PA)₂ (phen)₂]₂(ClO₄)₂ (1), [Eu(2,4-D)₂(phen)₂]₂(ClO₄)₂ (2) and [Nd(2,4-D)₃(C₂H₅OH)] _n (3). Compounds 1–3 are characterized by elemental analyses, IR, UV–Vis, ESI-MS spectra and TGA. 1 is also characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses reveal that 1 and 2 are binuclear, and 3 has a one-dimensional polymeric structure. The La(III), Eu(III) and Nd(III) are nine-coordinate with a distorted tricapped trigonal-prism geometry.     

Development of a dipstick immunoassay for quantitative determination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in water, fruit and urine samples

A sensitive dipstick assay for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) detection was developed. The assay was based on the competitive reaction of 2,4-D and enzyme tracer with monoclonal antibodies immobilised on an Ultrabind^? membrane. The binding of enzyme tracer on the test strip was determined by a simple, portable reflectometer as remission at 657 nm. Using this technique, 2,4-D could be detected in a concentration range of 0.5 μg/L to 100 μg/L. The center point of the 2,4-D test was found at a concentration of 6 μg/L. Cross-reactivity with 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) as determined by this dipstick assay was 2.5% and 3% by standard ELISA technique using microtiter plates. The assay was applied in the detection of 2,4-D in real water samples, and sensitivity was comparable to spiked water samples. If combined with an effective extraction procedure that results in recovery rates of 90%, the dipstick assay can be used to monitor human exposure to 2,4-D from contamination in water, from oranges and in testing urine samples. Received: 2 September 1998 / Revised: 29 January 1999 / Accepted: 31 January 1999     

Application of NaClO-treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes as solid phase extraction sorbents for preconcentration of trace 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in aqueous samples

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes functionalized by oxidation of original multiwalled carbon nanotubes with NaClO were prepared and their application as solid phase extraction sorbent for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) was investigated systemically, and a new method was developed for the determination of trace 2,4-D in water samples based on extraction and preconcentration of 2,4-D with solid phase extraction columns packed with NaClO-treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes prior to its determination by HPLC. The optimum experimental parameters for preconcentration of 2,4-D, including the column activating conditions, the amount of the sorbent, pH of the sample, elution composition, and elution volume, were investigated. The results indicated 2,4-D could be quantitatively retained by 100 mg NaClO-treated multiwalled carbon nanotubes at pH 5, and then eluted completely with 10 mL 3:1 (v/v) methanol-ammonium acetate solution (0.3 mol/L). The detection limit of this method for 2,4-D was 0.15 μg/L, and the relative standard deviation was 2.3% for fortified tap water samples and 2.5% for fortified riverine water sample at the 10 μg/L level. The method was validated using fortified tap water and riverine water samples with known amount of 2,4-D at the 0.4, 10, and 30 μg/L levels, respectively.     

Evaluation and validation of commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) specific for atrazine, chlorpyrifos, and diazinon in aqueous phase

The performance of commercially available microtiter plate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) kits specific for the determination of triazines (atrazine), chlorpyrifos, and diazinon was evaluated for sensitivity, intra-assay repeatability, and accuracy using samples of known concentration in aqueous solution. Mean percent recovery values were not significantly different among concentrations for diazinon (One-way parametric ANOVA, P=0.46, n=72). However, mean percent recovery values were significantly different among concentrations for both atrazine and chlorpyrifos analyses (One-way parametric ANOVA, P<0.0001, n=36 for both analyses), and were highly dependent on concentrations for chlorpyrifos (% recovery=−0.155 (concentration)+238.448, r²=0.91, P<0.0001, n=36). All methods demonstrated a high degree of statistical separation between readings at various concentrations (One-way parametric ANOVA followed by Student-Neuman-Keuls (SNK) multiple range test, P<0.0001 for all analyses) and a close correlation between known concentrations and concentrations derived from ELISA for all three analytes (diazinon, r=0.985, P<0.0001, n=72; atrazine r=0.967, P<0.0001, n=36; chlorpyrifos r=0.947, P<0.0001, n=36). Statistical comparisons between known concentrations and concentrations derived from ELISAs showed that diazinon values were significantly (P<0.01, n=12 per concentration level) overestimated for all concentration levels. Chlorpyrifos concentrations were significantly (P<0.01, n=6 per concentration level) overestimated at lower concentrations and significantly (P<0.01, n=6 per concentration level) underestimated at higher concentrations. ELISA-derived atrazine concentrations were statistically similar to known concentrations for most concentration levels (P>0.05, n=6 per concentration level). Results indicate that ELISA kits are excellent for screening purposes, although consistent overestimation of ELISA for diazinon at all concentration levels and chlorpyrifos at lower concentrations levels must be resolved before the kits can be used routinely for regulatory compliance monitoring.