Atrazine

1. Atrazine By: Chris Nast APES 2nd Hr.

2. Classification • Atrazine is a white, crystalline solid that is used as a synthetic herbicide to kill broadleaf weeds in agricultural and roadway applications • Atrazine was the most commonly used herbicide in the United States, with application of approximately 76 million pounds active ingredient back in 1997 • Its is now a “RUP” chemical(Restricted Use Chemical) which means only professionals are allowed to use it nowadays

3. Uses of Atrazine • Atrazine is most commonly used on corn crops, with a large proportion of usage in the “Corn Belt” of the U.S., predominantly in the Midwest • Atrazine is also used on sugarcane crops; and on roadway grasses, golf course turf, and residential lawns, predominantly in the Southeastern U.S. • It was created to be a herbicide farmers could use to kill weed from their crops

4. Human Exposure • The primary target of atrazine in humans and animals is the endocrine (hormonal) system and it is exposed through water humans drink. The runoff of Atrazine on farms gets into our water supply and exposes us to the toxic. • Signs of possible endocrine disruption in children’s health are related to effects during pregnancy and during sexual development. Atrazine exposure has also lead to premature delivery and child retardation.

5. Concerns • Several experimental animal studies reported reproductive and endocrine effects following Atrazine exposure • In one study, reduced sperm number were observed in male rats injected with Atrazine • In another study, decreased mating success (pregnancy) was observed following Atrazineexposure of adult female, but not male rats;

6. Impact on Wildlife • Recent studies of Atrazineexposure of frogs suggest Atrazinemay impact sexual development • Atrazinewreaks havoc with the sex lives of adult male frogs, modifying three-quarters of them and turning one in 10 into females, according to a new study by University of California, Berkeley, biologists.

7. MCL • Arsenic (ppb) sampled 2008 MCL=10 • MCL (Maximum Contaminant Level): The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. • 10 is relatively low so water can’t have that much in it to be considered a safe amount • The • IRED also includes U.S. EPA requirements for appropriate uses and labeling of the products

8. Minimizing exposure • U.S. EPA urges owners of private wells to consider testing their water • Caregivers may consider an alternate water supply than bottled water, where Atrazine-contaminated ground water may be impacting drinking water • Exposure to children can occur primarily from ingestion of contaminated drinking water, and from contact or ingestion following agricultural and lawn applications, so wash your hands and take precautions

9. Pesticide atrazine can turn male frogs into females By Robert Sanders, Media Relations | March 1, 2010 • The 10 percent or more that turn from males into females – something not known to occur under natural conditions in amphibians – can successfully mate with male frogs but, because these females are genetically male, all their offspring are male.

10. Sources Cited • U.S. EPA. (4/24/2007). Atrazine chemical summary. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/teach/chem_summ/Atrazine_summary.pdf • Sanders, R. (March 1, 2010). Pesticide atrazine can turn male frogs into females. Retrieved from http://newscenter.berkeley.edu/2010/03/01/frogs/