Has the EPA banned atrazine?
The reversal on atrazine is the Trump Administration’s third about-face on a toxic pesticide. The EPA’s own assessment concluded that the levels of chlorpyrifos currently found on food and in drinking water are unsafe and Hawaii and California have already banned the pesticide outright.
Is atrazine still being used?
“Atrazine is toxic to coral reefs and endangered species. Research has linked atrazine to birth defects and cancer in people, and even miniscule doses can chemically castrate frogs. It has been banned or is being phased out in more than 35 countries but is the second-most commonly used herbicide in the United States.
Is atrazine a restricted use?
Pesticides are classified as “restricted use” for a variety of reasons, such as potential for or history of groundwater contamination. Atrazine is the most widely used restricted-use herbicide, however there are over 700 such “restricted use” pesticides as of 2017.
What is the US Environmental Protection Agency drinking water standard for atrazine?
U.S. EPA Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for Drinking Water: 0.003 mg/L, based on potential cardiovascular or reproductive toxicity (http://www.epa.gov/safewater/contaminants/index.html) (41).
What are the environmental consequences of atrazine use?
It can reduce primary production in aquatic communities by inhibiting photosynthesis, has been linked to adverse reproductive effects in amphibians and other wildlife, and is currently being studied as a potential endocrine disruptor and carcinogen to both aquatic and human life.
Is atrazine a pollutant?
Atrazine is a widespread pollutant of groundwater and drinking water, has been linked to increased risk of cancer and reproductive problems in people, and can chemically castrate male frogs at extremely low concentrations, including those allowed in drinking water.
Is atrazine still in tap water?
Atrazine, a widely used agricultural weedkiller that disrupts hormones, contaminates tap water supplies for about 7.6 million Americans at potentially harmful levels. But the federal government is doing little to counter the threat. The highest levels of atrazine in tap water are detected in May and June.
Which countries have banned atrazine?
Seven EU countries in the European Union (“EU”) have banned atrazine: France, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Austria and Italy. These countries have a policy of banning pesticides that occur in drinking water at levels higher than 0.1 parts per billion.
Is atrazine volatile?
Atrazine is the common name for an herbicide that is widely used to kill weeds. It is used mostly on farms. Pure atrazine-an odorless, white powder-is not very volatile, reactive, or flammable. It will dissolve in water.
Where can atrazine be found in the environment?
Atrazine has also been found in streams, rivers, and lakes near fields where it has been applied. Higher amounts have been found in these waterways in the spring and summer months. Therefore, you may wish not to swim in, nor drink from, these bodies of water.
Is atrazine safe for the environment?
If it were so inclined, the Environmental Protection Agency could highlight the herbicide atrazine as a farm chemical that is clearly safe and effective.
Is atrazine an endocrine disruptor?
Atrazine is also a potent endocrine disruptor that is active at low, ecologically relevant concentrations.