Spatial and seasonal variations in atrazine and metolachlor surface water concentrations in Ontario (Canada) using ELISA.

Concerns regarding the impacts of pesticides on aquatic species and drinking water sources have increased demands on water quality monitoring programs; however the costs of sample analysis can be prohibitive. In this study we investigated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a cost-effective, high through-put method for measuring pesticide concentrations in surface waters. Seven hundred and thirty-nine samples from 158 locations throughout Ontario were analysed for atrazine and metolachlor from April to October 2007. Concentrations ranged from <0.1 to 3.91 µg L(-1) (median=0.12 µg L(-1)) for atrazine and from <0.1 to 1.83 µg L(-1) (median=0.09 µg L(-1)) for metolachlor. Peak concentrations occurred in late spring/early summer, in rural agricultural locations, and decreased over the remainder of the growing season for both herbicides. About 3% of the samples that had ELISA results occurring above the limit of quantification (0.10 µg L(-1)) were evaluated against gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Linear regression analysis revealed a R(2) value of 0.88 and 0.39, for atrazine and metolachlor, respectively. ELISA tended to overestimate concentrations for atrazine and metolachlor, most likely because the ELISA kits also detect their metabolites. Atrazine data suggest that ELISA may be used complementary with GC-MS analysis to enhance the spatial and temporal resolution of a water quality monitoring study. The commercially available metolachlor ELISA kit requires further investigation. ELISA may be used to detect atrazine and metolachlor in surface water samples, but it is not recommended as a quantitative replacement for traditional analytical methods.

Low cost monitoring of glyphosate in surface waters using the ELISA method: an evaluation.

Concerns have been raised in the scientific community regarding the environmental implications of a dramatic increase in corn-based ethanol production and associated increases in pesticide use. The use of glyphosate, a broad-spectrum herbicide, for corn production has increased considerably in recent years in Canada and the United States. The cost of measuring concentrations of organic contaminants in the environment using traditional wet chemistry methods can be prohibitive; especiallywhen large numbers of samples are required to quantify the spatial and temporal variability in contaminant concentrations. The goal of our study was to evaluate a cost-effective method to measure glyphosate concentrations in surface waters. The reliability of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) results was evaluated against liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, and linear regression results for 30 water samples from urban watersheds revealed a strong relationship (R2 = 0.88). These results suggest that ELISA methods, used in conjunction with traditional methods, represent a cost-effective approach to enhance the spatial and temporal resolution of a water quality monitoring study. Additionally, we measured a total of 739 surface water samples from over 150 sampling locations throughout Ontario using ELISA from April to October 2007. Concentrations exceeded the method detection limit of 0.1 microg/L in 33% of the samples, with a maximum concentration of 12.0 microg/L. Glyphosate showed a bimodal temporal distribution with peak concentrations occurring in late spring/early summer and fall, and did not exceed the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) guideline for the protection of aquatic life (65 microg/L) in any of the samples.

Temporal trends in polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, dioxin-like PCBs, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers in Niagara river suspended sediments.

Archived suspended sediment samples collected over the period 1980-2002 at Niagara-on-the-Lake in the Niagara river were analyzed to assess temporal trends in contaminants associated with historical industrial activities in the watershed (PCDDs/PCDFs, DLPCBs), compared to more modern industrial chemicals (PBDEs). The temporal trends for PCDDs/PCDFs and DLPCBs were generally similar, and showed a general trend toward decreasing concentrations, which was presumably due to implementation of control measures in the Niagara river watershed, including the remediation of hazardous waste facilities. The temporal trend in PBDEs contrasted with those of PCDDs/PCDFs and DLPCBs. Prior to 1988, PBDEs (sum of 16 congeners including deca-BDE) were generally detected at low-ppb concentrations, but showed a trend toward increasing concentrations over the period 1980-1988. After 1988, PBDE concentrations in the Niagara river showed a more rapidly increasing trend to a maximum of approximately 35 ng/g in 1995, with deca-BDE as the predominant congener detected. Samples collected over the period February 2003 to March 2004 at the head and mouth of the Niagara river were also analyzed for PBDEs; in all cases PBDE concentrations were higher at the mouth of the river at the outflow to Lake Ontario, indicating the Niagara river watershed is a source of PBDE contamination to Lake Ontario. However, PBDE concentrations in suspended sediments of the Niagara river were comparable to, or lower than, concentrations in bottom sediments in other industrialized/urbanized areas of the world. Based on these comparisons of global PBDE bottom sediment concentrations, the Niagara river watershed does not appear to be a significant local source of PBDEs to Lake Ontario, and concentrations in suspended sediments appear to be indicative of general PBDE contamination from a contamination of local, regional, and continental sources.