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Development of a Simple and Low‐Cost Enzymatic Methodology for Quantitative Analysis of Carbamates in Meat Samples of Forensic Interest
Author(s) -
Sabino Bruno Duarte,
Torraca Tathiana Guilliod,
Moura Claudia Melo,
Rozenbaum Hannah Felicia,
De Castro Faria Mauro Velho
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of forensic sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.715
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1556-4029
pISSN - 0022-1198
DOI - 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2010.01340.x
Subject(s) - aldicarb , carbamate , acetylcholinesterase , chromatography , toxicology , chemistry , carbofuran , forensic science , contamination , extraction (chemistry) , pesticide , enzyme , biology , biochemistry , ecology , genetics
Foods contaminated with a granulated material similar to Temik (a commercial pesticide formulation containing the carbamate insecticide aldicarb) are often involved in accidental ingestion, suicides, and homicides in Brazil. We developed a simple technique to detect aldicarb. This technique is based on the inhibition of a stable preparation of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, and it is specially adapted for forensic purposes. It comprises an initial extraction step with the solvent methylene chloride followed by a colorimetric acetylcholinesterase assay. We propose that results of testing contaminated forensic samples be expressed in aldicarb equivalents because, even though all other carbamates are also potent enzyme inhibitors, aldicarb is the contaminant most frequently found in forensic samples. This method is rapid (several samples can be run in a period of 2 h) and low cost. This method also proved to be precise and accurate, detecting concentrations as low as 40 μg/kg of aldicarb in meat samples.