DETERMINATION OF ALDICARB SULFONE IN HYDROPONICALLY GROWN CUCUMBERS

Abstract

During a two week period, several residents of a small Nebraska community experienced violent illnesses with short duration following ingestion of locally grown hydroponic cucumbers (Goes et al. 1979). Approximately a year later during another two week period, a second similar outbreak occurred. In each incident those who ingested hydroponic cucumbers experienced similar illnesses. All of the cucumbers were grown at the same greenhouse. The carbamate insecticide aldicarb, was detected in some cucumbers grown at the hydroponic greenhouse.The aldicarb was determined as aldicarb sulfone (a metabolite) by gas chromatography employing a flame photometric detector (FPD) with a 394 mμ filter selective for sulfur‐containing compounds. Separate calibration curves, derived from aldicarb sulfone, are required for the quantitation.