[Diethylstilbestrol in urine of slaughtered cattle]

The results of an investigation during 1981-1984 for the presence of diethylstilbestrol (DES) in 12576 samples of bovine urine in the Netherlands are presented. The screening was performed by radioimmunochemical detection after chromatographic purification on celite. Subsequent final confirmation was performed by combined high pressure liquid chromatography-gas chromatography mass spectrometry. On the average in 1.7% of the 12576 samples the presence of stilbenes , primarily DES, was proven. Probably due to the reintroduction of the meat inspection act regarding the control for DES, a substantial decrease to 0.2% (4 samples) was observed in the first three months of 1984. In these 4 samples out of 2333 samples the presence of dienestrol (DE) was confirmed. No DES or hexestrol (HEX) could be detected.