eNEWS
November 2009 > EPA undertaking new review of the herbicide Atrazine
The EPA issued a public notice Oct. 7 that it is commencing a review of the effects of the widely used herbicide atrazine on human health. The review, to be conducted by an EPA Science Advisory Panel, will begin in Nov. 2009 and continue through most of 2010. It will focus on scientific studies since the completion of an EPA review in 2003 which concluded that the levels of all triazine pesticides, including atrazine, were below the level of regulatory concern. Atrazine is applied to about 60 percent of U.S. corn and its use has increased recently as farmers use it on weeds that have developed resistance to Round-Up and other glyphosate herbicides.
Atrazine is the leading pesticide contaminant of surface and groundwater. In addition, a number of scientific studies indicate that atrazine is highly mobile and can travel hundreds of miles from its application point in snow and rain. It is highly toxic to a number of aquatic species and has been implicated in a steep decline in amphibian species. EPA indicated in the announcement that after the review for human health effects is completed, the agency will commence a review of atrazine’s effects on amphibians and aquatic habitats.
For information visit the EPA Atrazine Updates Website.
courtesy NSAC