What is atrazine?
Atrazine is a common herbicide used to kill weeds, mostly on farms (particularly in the Midwest on corn, sugarcane, and sorghum crops) but also on highway and railroad rights-of-way. Atrazine is an odorless white powder that dissolves in water. It does not occur naturally.
How can I be exposed to atrazine?
Most people are not exposed to atrazine on a regular basis. When applied as an herbicide to crops, atrazine can enter the air or wash into streams, rivers, or lakes. Atrazine can also move through soil and enter the groundwater. Surface water tends to have higher levels of atrazine than groundwater. Once atrazine enters water, it breaks down slowly and will stay there for a long time.
The risk of exposure is greatest for workers who may breath, eat, drink, or touch atrazine during its chemical production or application as an herbicide.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies atrazine as a Restricted Use Product (RUP). This means that only certified users can purchase and use the chemical -- it is not widely available to the general population.
How can atrazine affect my health?
Atrazine can affect the reproductive system. Some studies found an increased risk in premature births, low birth weight, and birth defects from exposure to atrazine during pregnancy. Animal studies have shown that atrazine may also damage the liver, kidney, and heart.
Available information is insufficient to conclude that atrazine causes cancer in humans. While there are limited data to suggest a link between atrazine and certain types of cancer, the EPA has classified atrazine as not likely to cause cancer in humans.
What is the drinking water standard for atrazine?
The EPA and Massachusetts Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) is 0.003 milligrams per liter (mg/L).
In Massachusetts, local Boards of Health and Health Departments have the authority to regulate private wells and may establish criteria for their location, construction, water quality, and quantity. Additional information for residents who use private wells is available from MassDEP.
What are the testing requirements for atrazine?
In Massachusetts, all public water systems are initially required to test for atrazine for four consecutive quarters (every three months for one year) and repeat every three years. Based on the results, a public water system may change the testing frequency after approval by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP).