Distribution of Residual Pesticide Within Textile Structures as Determined by Electron Microscopy

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Abstract
An electron microscopical technique was developed to determine the location and distribution of the organophosphorus pesticide, malathion, on and within yams and fibers. X-ray microanalysis and backscattered electron imaging of contaminated fiber cross sections was accomplished by using OsO4 as a tag for the pesticide. On contaminated 50% cotton/50% polyester fabric with and without a durable press finish, malathion was observed on the surface of the cotton and polyester fibers and in the lumen of the cotton fibers, but no malathion was found inside the polyester fibers. A statistical comparison of differences in the distribution of malathion was made for durable press finished and unfinished cotton/polyester fabrics and between various regions on fiber cross sections for each fabric. X-ray mapping was also used to define the location of malathion on yams and in fiber cross sections.