title: [A quarter of a century of studies of the abuse of hormonal anabolics in slaughtering animals: no DES-illusion!].
abstract: Over twenty-five years of analytical chemical and analytical biological forensic examination for residues of anabolic agents are reviewed. Up to 1981, this review is not only representative of the research done at the National Institute of Public Health but also of any research in this field in The Netherlands. A more detailed background is presented of the situation and the model of investigation adopted in the analytical-chemical testing of bovine urine for diethylstilbestrol (DES) following legal verdicts in 1981. At the time, examination in accordance with the Meat Regulations as well as a particular method of analysis were condemned. A retrospective study showed the rejected radioimmunochemical method (RIA) to be reliable as regards false-positive results at a level of 2 micrograms or more of DES per litre of urine (2 parts per billion or 2 ppb) rather than the level of 1 ppb adopted in 1981. Extensive and large-scale screening for DES from 1984 up to the present day resulted in the almost complete disappearance of the illegal use of this anabolic compounds in the Netherlands. However, investigations of sites of injection detected in slaughtered cattle during the period from 1983 to 1984, showed that other anabolics were still being used illegally. These studies particularly revealed residues of combined anabolic compounds ('cocktails'). The most common active anabolic ingredients observed were the xenobiotic steroids nortestosterone (nandrolone) and medroxyprogesterone and the exogenous natural steroids oestradiol and testosterone.
mesh_terms: D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D009426:Netherlands; D011634:Public Health; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D045930:Anabolic Agents; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol
vernacular_title: Een kwart eeuw onderzoek naar misbruik van hormonale anabolica bij slachtdieren: geen DES-illusie!