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Determination of atrazine in rainfall and surface water by enzyme immunoassay

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Abstract

Rainwater and surface water from four sites in Germany (Bavaria and Lower Saxony) were analyzed for atrazine by enzyme immunoassay from June 1990 until October 1992. The limit of quantification of the immunoassay was 0.02 μg/L with a middle of the test at 0.2 μg/L. About 60 % of the samples contained measurable amounts of atrazine. Seasonal trends were observed, with the highest concentration in the summer months of up to 4 μg/L for rainwater and up to 15 μg/L for surface waters. The highest concentrations were found in agricultural areas, while in the investigated national parks up to 0.56 μg/L could be detected in rain water. This points to long-range atmospheric transport from agricultural areas to pristine national parks. Samples from forest stands usually showed higher atrazine concentrations than samples from open fields. Deposition rates of 10 – 50 μg/m2 · yr were observed in the national parks and 10–180 μg/m2 · yr at the agricultural sites. Comparison of results obtained by enzyme immunoassay and GC/MS showed a good correlation of r = 0.95.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lehrstuhl für Botanik, TU München (Weihenstephan), D-85350, Freising, Germany

    Andrea Dankwardt, Susanne Wüst & Bertold Hock

  2. Fachbereich Forstwirtschaft, FH Weihenstephan, D-85350, Freising, Germany

    Wolfram Elling

  3. U.S. Geological Survey, 4821 Quail Crest Place, 66049, Lawrence, KS, USA

    E. Michael Thurman

Authors
  1. Andrea Dankwardt
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  2. Susanne Wüst
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  3. Wolfram Elling
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  4. E. Michael Thurman
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  5. Bertold Hock
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Dankwardt, A., Wüst, S., Elling, W. et al. Determination of atrazine in rainfall and surface water by enzyme immunoassay. Environ Sci & Pollut Res 1, 196–204 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02986530

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