Organophosphate Pesticides affect the nervous system by disrupting the enzyme that regulates acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. Most organophosphates are insecticides. They were developed during the early 19th century, but their effects on insects, which are similar to their effects on humans, were discovered in 1932. Some are very poisonous (they were used in World War II as nerve agents). However, they usually are not persistent in the environment.

Carbamate Pesticides are widely used against insects, fungi, and weeds. They also affect the nervous system by disrupting the enzyme regulating acetylcholine. The enzyme effects are usually reversible. There are several subgroups within the carbamates.

Organochlorine Insecticides were commonly used in the past, but many have been removed for the market due to their health and environmental effects and their persistence (e.g. DDT and chlordane).

Pyrethroid Pesticides were developed as a synthetic version of the naturally occurring pesticide pyrethrin, which is found in chrysanthemums. They have been modified to increase their stability in the environment. Some synthetic pyrethroids are toxic to the nervous system.

With enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method the amount of pesticides in water, soil, and other matrices can be determined. Ideal instruments for ELISA formats are the Berthold Technologies’ multimode readers Mithras LB 940 or TriStar LB 941.

Kits:

• Diuron ELISA Kit (Abraxis Kits)
• DDE/DDT ELISA Kit (Abraxis Kits)
• Cyclodienes ELISA Kit (Abraxis Kits)
• Atrazine ELISA Kit (Abraxis Kits)