Atrazine, alachlor, and carbofuran contamination of well water in central Maine

Data are presented on the concentrations of pesticides (atrazine, alachlor and carbofuran) in private water wells in Maine, sampled 3 times during 1990. Results obtained with a commercial enzyme immuno-assay kit were compared with those from a chromatographic technique. The immuno-assay procedure was a simple, cost-effective method for screening samples for the presence of pesticides in groundwater. The best results were obtained for atrazine and carbofuran. Although only a small number of wells were contaminated, it is pointed out that only a small area of the state was sampled and it is recommended that screening tests should be carried out on a wider area.