CARBENDAZIM RESIDUES QUANTIFICATION IN GREEN LETTUCE BY ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY

Abstract

Carbendazim  is a fungicide that is not approved for use in the European Union, but is used in some other countries to preserve agricultural crops. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) become a viable alternative to traditional instrumental methods in pesticides analysis, for screening purpose. Carbendazim residues were determined in two green lettuce cultivars, from the experimental lots, harvested at different times after the treatment with 0.1 % carbendazim solution, by an ELISA carbendazim commercial kit and the values  were compared with those obtained by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results of ELISA and HPLC analysis of carbendazim residues in the two green lettuce cultivars were well correlated (Pearson correlation coefficient r=0.8925). Carbendazim residues in green lettuce/vegetables can be determined with high reliability by commercial ELISAs with results well correlated with those obtained by HPLC, with an additional sample preparation step involving solid phase extraction, in order to reduce matrix effects; the assay can be used for carbendazim screening of many vegetable/fruit samples in shorter time and with inexpensive/cheaper equipment.