An enzyme immunoassay for mutagenic metabolites of the herbicide alachlor Original Research Article

2-Chloro-2′,6′-diethylacetanilide (CDA) and 2-hydroxy-2′,6′-diethylacetanilide (HDA) are environmental metabolites of the chloroacetanilide herbicide alachlor. CDA and HDA are groundwater and surface water contaminants and are mutagenic in the Salmonella/microsome assay. We report the development of a cELISA for the detection of CDA and HDA in environmental samples. The linear range of detection is 0.01–10 mg/l and cross-reactivity to alachlor and related compounds is less than 0.2%. Solid-phase extraction followed by cELISA detection provides an effective detection limit of 10 ng/l in aqueous samples.