Colorimetric Method for the Determination of Ethylene Dibromide Residues in Grains and Air

Abstract

A method based on the hydrolytic debromination of ethylene dibromide (EDB) in the presence of an oxidizing agent has been developed. Bromine liberated from inorganic bromide is used to brominate p-rosaniline. The intensity of the resulting violet-red bromo compound in chloroform is measured at 580 nm. The relationship between absorbance and concentration of EDB is linear in the range of 5–60 μg. The method is very sensitive and as little as 0.50 ppm unchanged EDB residue in a 20 g sample of fumigated grain and 1 ppm EDB in a 10 ml air sample can be detected.

Reproductive Potential of Male Rats Fed Dietary Ethylene Dibromide

“…Based on our studies, it appears that the possible health hazard, especially the reproductive dysfunction due to exposure of EDB to human system that could result from ingesting fumigated stain, is remote. This is more so in tropical countries where during postharvest handling, processing and cooking of foodgrains will further reduce the EDB residues (Rangaswamy et al 1976;Plimmer et al 1977). Similar studies conducted by us (Shivanandappa et al 1983) revealed that EDB in the diet up to 500 ppm fed to rats for nine months did not cause any toxic effects.…”

Derivatization of ethylene dibromide with silica-supported silver picrate for improved high-performance liquid chromatographic detection

“…Additional studies have confirmed EDB's toxic effects (3, 4), and permissible occupational exposure levels have been set (5). EDB has been detected in ambient air (2, 6-13), water (12,14,15), foods (7,13,(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21), soil (22, 23), and biological samples (12,15,23). The ability to constantly monitor EDB is very important, and several analytical techniques to detect and/or confirm the presence of EDB are needed.…”

“…The analyses not confirmed as above usually used a mass spectrometer as the detector and/or capillary columns (10-12, 15,19). EDB can also be determined by colorimetric means (13,24) or by molecular emission cavity analysis (22,25), but these nonchromatographic methods cannot distinguish different brominated organic compounds. For those laboratories that lack a GC/MS or capillary GC system, or those that need a method other than GC to confirm the presence of EDB, a highly specific liquid chromatographic method is needed.…”