Immunoassay for Monitoring Pesticide Contamination in Agricultural Products

Abstract

Much of the increase in agricultural productivity over the past half century has been due to the control of the pests with synthetic pesticides. The use of these pesticides has caused environmental problems and public health concern. The guidelines of maximum residue levels of pesticides in agricultural products has been well documented but more careful monitoring of their residues is required. Pyrethorid class pesticides are dominant in modern agricultural industry but public health concerns have been recently considered. The major route of pesticide exposure is the diet and with improved surveillance of pyrethorid residues in agricultural products their exposure should be controlled and minimized. In suitable products with reduced matrix effects such as agricultural products, aqueous samples, fruits and vegetables the use of immunoassays for pyrethorid residue monitoring could satisfy this requirement. Immunoassays have several advantages, namely they are highly sensitive, selective and cost-effective and enable large-scale sample handling and analysis in the laboratory.