Chemiluminescence assays of organophosphorus and carbamate pesticides

A chemiluminescent assay was developed and optimized for acetylcholinesterase activity using the two consecutive reactions of choline oxidase and peroxidase which produce photons when luminol is used as a substrate. Carbofuran, a carbamate pesticide, was tested after extraction from tap water and was found to give a very good inhibition curve of the cholinesterase activity. Inhibition curves were also performed on five other organophosphorus pesticides and their inhibitory potential was found to be directly related to their biological activities. Finally an adaptation for multiwell assays was developed using high sensitive instant films.