Development of a Simple and Low-Cost Enzymatic Methodology for Quantitative Analysis of Carbamates in Meat Samples of Forensic Interest

• NCJ Number: 231237
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 55 Issue: 3 Dated: May 2010 Pages: 808-812
• Author(s): Bruno Duarte Sabino, Ph.D.; Tathiana Guilliod Torraca, Pharm.D.; Claudia Melo Moura, M.Sc.; Hannah Felicia Rozenbaum, M.Sc.; Mauro Velho de Castro Faria, M.D.
• Date Published: May 2010
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

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. Researchers developed a simple technique to detect aldicarb.

Abstract

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 ìg/kg of aldicarb in meat samples. 4 tables, 2 figures, and 17 references (Published Abstract)