Phys.org March 24, 2022
Blow flies sample the environment as they search for water and food sources and can be trapped from kilometers away using baited traps. Researchers at Purdue University exposed three species of blow flies to the chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulants dimethyl methylphosphonate and diethyl phosphoramidate as well as the pesticide dichlorvos, followed by treatment-dependent temperature and humidity conditions. At intervals within a 14-day postexposure period the fly guts were extracted and analyzed. They found that the amount of CWA simulant in fly guts decreased with time following exposure but were detectable 14 days following exposure, giving a long window of detectability. The hydrolysis product of sarin was also detected in blow flies 14 days post exposure. The work demonstrates the potential to obtain valuable samples from remote or access-restricted areas without risking lives…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Graphical abstract. Credit: Environ. Sci. Technol. 2022, 56, 6, 3535–3543, February 21, 2022Â