Evaluation of an enzyme immunoassay for the detection of the insect growth regulator fenoxycarb in environmental and biological samples.

A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for fenoxycarb was adapted for quantitative detection of this insect growth regulator in various environmental, agricultural, food and biological matrices. Environmental samples were taken from soil and surface waters in Hungary. The ELISA enabled fenoxycarb detection in surface waters in the 1.1-125 ng ml(-1) concentration range without sample cleanup. In contrast, soil produced a strong matrix effect due to humic acids and other soil components. Several fruit homogenates and commercial fruit juices (eg apple, pear, grape) were analyzed by the ELISA. The assay was found to be suitable for analysis of fenoxycarb in fruit juices diluted 1:40. Biological samples included insect, fish and bovine tissues. The ELISA was applied to detect fenoxycarb in various biological matrices from larvae of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. The assay proved useful for the analysis of haemolymph diluted 1:10 or at higher dilutions. Fat body and whole body homogenates, however, caused severe matrix effects. Fenoxycarb was detected in liver homogenates (diluted 1:40) from fish treated with various doses of fenoxycarb, and the concentrations determined correlated with the applied doses. The method was used to analyze spiked bovine urine samples diluted 1:10 or at greater dilutions. Fenoxycarb content determined by the ELISA in water and fruit juice samples was validated using GC-MS with solid-phase microextraction (SPME) sample preparation. The results of these studies demonstrated both the value and limitations of the assay when used for monitoring fenoxycarb in environmental, food and biological samples.