The prolific usage of atrazine and related herbicides poses a significant risk to water supplies, especially areas with high agricultural activity. Versatile methods of detection and quantification of these compounds via enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) provide expedient results with low detection limits. However, ELISA is non-specific technique, causing substantial error and necessitating comparison with laboratory-based analysis. We have adapted a standard protocol using LC/MS-MS (Liquid Chromatography/ Tandem Mass Spectrometry) as a means of comparative analysis with ELISA field tests. Water samples were gathered from local surface water in an agricultural setting. Using the LC/MS-MS method, samples were probed for three common herbicides (atrazine, simazine, and propazine). Multiple samples contained relatively high concentrations of atrazine. This instructional laboratory will expose students to the capabilities and shortcomings of both ELISA and LC/MS-MS in the context of a “hot topic” in environmental chemistry. The developed LC/MS-MS analysis is fast with low detection limits and demonstrates the efficacy of instrumental features for the purposes of education.

Analytical techniques in environmental chemistry: Detection and quantification of common herbicides in surface water

249th National Meeting (2015)

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