Atrazine in Drinking Water
Atrazine is the second most widely used herbicide in the US, with roughly 80 million pounds applied to crops each year. It is used to control grasses and broadleaf weeds before they emerge. In this article we’ll cover what Atrazine is, how it gets into your drinking water, what levels are dangerous, and how to test for it.
Atrazine in Drinking Water at a Glance:
Health Effects: Reproductive and Hormonal Damage
MCL: 3 ppb
Test: Safe Home Ultimate Drinking Water Test Kit (Laboratory Test)
Treatment: Carbon Filter or Reverse Osmosis
What is Atrazine?
Atrazine is a herbicide that targets grasses and broadleaf weeds. Commonly used on corn, sugarcane, and sorghum. It’s been in common use since the 1960’s and is now applied to more than 60% of all corn in the United States.
Atrazine is the most commonly detected pesticide in ground, surface, and drinking water.
Other Brand Names for Atrazine include Aatrex®, Aatram®, Atratol®, and Gesaprim®. The scientific name for Atrazine is 6-chloro-N-ethyl-N’-(1-methylethyl)-triazine-2,4-diamine.
How does Atrazine get into my drinking water?
The main way that Atrazine gets into drinking water is when it is applied to crops as a herbicide. This enters the water system that is then run-off from the crop fields or soaks into groundwater.
There is some Atrazine that will be a byproduct of the manufacturing process, transportation, and disposal but it is a small amount compared to the 80 million pounds that are used on crops each year.
Negative Effects of Atrazine in Drinking Water
Exposure to Atrazine is associated with several negative health effects, largely cardiovascular and reproductive problems.
It is especially dangerous for those who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Some of these health risks include pre-term delivery, low fetal weight, heart, urinary, and limb defects in infants.
Atrazine and hormone disruptions
Atrazine is also a known hormone disruptor and an environmental endocrine disruptor. It’s been found to increase estrogen while decreasing testosterone. It can also alter puberty timing in children.
There have been several studies that have become popular talking points in the media about Atrazine and its effects on frogs. Atrazine can cause feminization (turning males into females) and alter mating preferences in amphibians. It can also cause chemical castration and suppress testosterone in frogs and other amphibians.
This has led to a worry about Atrazine and its effects in global amphibian declines as well as what negative health effects it is having on human hormone health.
What Level of Atrazine in Drinking Water is Dangerous?
The EPA has set the MCL (Maximum Contaminant Limit) for Atrazine as 3 ppb. The MCL is the highest amount of contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. These limits are set on public health standards as well as the cost of treatment. Many locations have stricter standards for Atrazine levels.
How to Test for Atrazine in Drinking Water
To test for Atrazine, you will need the Safe Home Ultimate Drinking Water Test Kit. This kit will let you collect your sample at home and then have it analyzed at our EPA-Certified Lab.
What to do if your Atrazine Levels are too High
If your Atrazine levels are too high in your water, there are several filtration options you can use to remove it.
A common solution is a reverse osmosis filter, often called an “RO Filter”. These typically are installed as a “point-of-use” filter. Meaning it will only filter the water out of one faucet in the home. This can be a great solution in a kitchen for the water you drink and cook with. But it will not treat water for other appliances or for use in a bathroom.
Another solution is an activated carbon filter. These can be point-of-use or whole home systems. The point-of-use systems are more affordable and easier to install. But the whole-home system will remove contamination from every source of water in your home.