Pesticides

Pesticide contamination of source waters is often seasonal as it primarily results from non-point source rainfall runoff from agricultural areas during periods of high pesticide application. Detailed quantification of pesticides (herbicides and insecticides) usually involves chromatographic separation and analysis, often coupled with mass spectrometry. Though applicable to on-line analysis, this technology is very expensive, and other less expensive (though less accurate) methods are available for frequent monitoring applications, including a relatively inexpensive immunoassay technique. For example, the immunoassay method for atrazine can be performed in approximately 40 minutes, is fairly inexpensive, and test kits are available from a variety of manufacturers.