Inexpensive ‘Dipstick’ Test For Pesticides In Foods
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Scientists in Canada are reporting the development of a fast, inexpensive “dipstick” test to identify small amounts of pesticides that may exist in foods and beverages. Their paper-strip test is more practical than conventional pesticide tests, producing results in minutes rather than hours by means of an easy-to-read color-change, they say.
The study is in the November 1 issue of ACS’ Analytical Chemistry, a semi-monthly journal.
John Brennan and colleagues note in the new study that conventional tests for detecting pesticides tend to use expensive and complex equipment and in some cases can take several hours to produce results. They cite a growing need for cheaper, more convenient, and more eco-friendly tests for pesticides, particularly in the food industry.
The scientists describe the development of a new paper-based test strip that changes color shades depending on the amount of pesticide present.
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