Nonlethal method for forensic evaluation of aldicarb exposure in wildlife.
Forensic evaluation of aldicarb exposure is difficult due to the rapid hydrolysis and oxidation of the parent compound. Oxidation products-aldicarb sulfoxide and aldicarb sulfone-are commonly analyzed, but hydrolytic products-aldicarb nitrile, aldicarb nitrile sulfoxide, aldicarb nitrile sulfone-are infrequently analyzed even though they are the primary stable products of aldicarb degradation. Nitrile analyses provide an important avenue to verify aldicarb exposure or aldicarb-induced mortality. Our aproach allows lethal and sublethal exposure assessment. Extraction of samples with acetonitrile:water is followed by chromatographic determination. Sublethal exposure assessment utilizes excreta samples, which is nonlethal and requires holding animals in captivity for 12 h or less. Sublethal exposures of northern bobwhite Colinus virginianus to aldicarb can be identified with greater than 80% confidence for 6 h after dosing. By analyzing GI tracts, lethal exposures of bobwhite to aldicarb can be identified with greater than 90% confidence for 4 days post mortem and with 75% confidence for 8 days post mortem. Sublethal exposures to aldicarb was identified in greater than 80% of Peromyscus maniculatis for 6 h after dosing. Aldicarb and its transformation products were detected for 8 days post mortem in all mice that received aldicarb doses at or above the LD50.
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The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Box 41163, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409, USA.
Harper
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Weisskopf
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D000448:Aldicarb / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D003088:Colinus; D004064:Digestive System / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D005895:Gizzard, Avian / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D010542:Peromyscus
D007306:Insecticides; D000448:Aldicarb