New biosensor can detect herbicide residues and antibiotics, in food

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Scientists at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) have developed an electro-chemical biosensor that detects the presence of trace amounts of antibiotics and atrazine – one of the most widely used and most persistent herbicides.

The inventors say the biosensor is faster, more portable and cheaper than laboratory tests used currently to detect contaminants, while having a very similar sensitivity. The equipment has been tested successfully to detect pesticides in samples of drinking water and commercial orange juice and to find traces of antibiotics in cow’s milk.

Atrazine and other triazine-based herbicides frequently contaminate water sources. Similarly, antibiotics administered to livestock may contaminate food and be harmful to humans. The European Union has established strict limits on traces of pesticides and antibiotics in food, but currently these limits must be policed by time-consuming and expensive laboratory tests.

The sensor developed by scientists at the UAB allows the detection of doses of atrazine at levels of 0.006 microgrammes per litre, much lower than the maximum concentrations allowed by European regulations of 0.1 microgrammes per litre. The sensor has a sensitivity of 1 microgramme per litre for whole milk, while the legislation allows a maximum of 100 micrograms. The sensor is portable and can be used in situ.