The illegal practice and resulting risks versus the controlled use of licensed drugs: views on the present situation in Germany.

The chronicle of misuse of anabolics in veal calf production started with diethylstilbestrol, which was used until 1980. During the following years until 1988, illicit preparations contained various steroidal sex hormones, predominantly estradiol, 19-nortestosterone, testosterone and their esters. Since autumn 1988, the sex hormones have been replaced by anabolic beta-agonists such as clenbuterol and salbutamol. The real extent of misuse has not been determined. If sex hormones have been applied, most residue levels in the periphery apart from the injection site will remain less than 10(-9) ng/g. At the injection sites total residues may be in the mg range, and biological effects on the consumer cannot be excluded. The orally active beta-agonist clenbuterol is accumulated in most organs and a 0 d withdrawal period is not feasible. Immunoassays are approved methods for screening purposes, whereas confirmation is mostly carried out by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry.