Time-controlled cholinesterase reactions as a means of measuring water-soluble residues of organophosphorus insecticide spray deposits on plant surfaces

Ellman's method of cholinesterase assay which is often used for residue analysis of organophosphorus insecticides has been modified by adding the protein denaturant, sodium dodecyl sulphate, to control the duration of the reaction. In doing so, the reaction time can be standardised to facilitate the measurement in a field laboratory of residues of water-soluble organophosphates, particularly on plant surfaces that have been subjected to sprays. Thirty samples can be analysed in 1 h by timing each step of the procedure for a series of 30 reaction tubes at 1-min intervals from the incubation of the enzyme with the insecticide to the final addition of the sodium dodecyl sulphate. Results from a series of aerial spray trials are presented and discussed briefly as an example of a field application of the method.