Is atrazine banned in Canada?

Because atrazine was banned in the EU, Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) was required by law to conduct a special review of the pesticide in 2013. The EU banned atrazine due to its concern over observed groundwater contamination and its potential future contamination.

Which herbicides contain atrazine?

Atrazine is in a group of man-made systemic herbicides called triazines. Specifically, atrazine is a chlorotriazine herbicide. It is used for broadleaf weeds both before and after they sprout. It is also used on some grassy weeds.

Has atrazine been banned?

“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.

Where is atrazine banned?

Atrazine is banned in Europe, due to its potential to contaminate water sources, but widely used in the U.S., where about 70 million pounds of the pesticide is sprayed—mostly on corn, but also on sorghum, sugarcane, and a few other crops, as well as on golf courses, Christmas tree farms, and in residential landscaping.

How much atrazine is in tap water?

The maximum contaminant level (MCL) for atrazine in drinking water is 3 µg/L [23]. Public water systems are required to test for atrazine quarterly, unless atrazine concentrations are consistently below the MCL, at which point testing can be reduced to once every three years.

How does atrazine get into drinking water?

Exposure to alachlor and atrazine in groundwater occurs mainly by drinking contaminated water. You also may be exposed to small amounts through your skin while bathing or showering in contaminated water. Alachlor and atrazine do not evaporate well, so you are not likely to breathe vapors of these herbicides.

Is atrazine a good herbicide?

It provides good weed control for crops because it is a selective herbicide, meaning the crop plants can metabolize the chemical, but the weeds are killed. It also has lawn care uses, like for golf courses and residential lawns as a weed killer. It is great for dandelions and crab grass without killing your grass.

Is atrazine bad for humans?

It’s so dangerous to both people and wildlife that it has been banned by the European Union. Numerous studies have provided overwhelming evidence linking atrazine to significant health concerns including increased risk of prostate cancer and decreased sperm count in men, and a higher risk of breast cancer in women.

Is atrazine safe to drink?

In recent years, five epidemiological studies published in peer-reviewed journals have found evidence suggesting that small amounts of atrazine in drinking water, including levels considered safe by federal standards, may be associated with birth defects — including skull and facial malformations and misshapen limbs — …

Is atrazine 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. The highest levels of atrazine in tap water are detected in May and June.

Why is atrazine bad for you?

Atrazine is linked to declines of endangered amphibians and of many other endangered species throughout the country. It is an endocrine disruptor that directly affects the sexual development of amphibians by changing their hormone cycle.

How long does atrazine last?

How Long Does Atrazine Last? One application of Atrazine typically remains active in the soil for 6 weeks, killing weed seeds as well as the mature weeds in your lawn. Over the course of these 6 weeks, Atrazine is absorbed by plant roots and is gradually washed out of the soil by watering and precipitation.

What weeds does atrazine control?

Atrazine 4L herbicide contains four-pounds-per-gallon of Atrazine and is used for season-long weed control. This product will control most annual broadleaf and grass weeds in corn, sorghum, sugarcane, and certain other crops as specified on the label. May be applied before or after weeds emerge.

What does atrazine kill?

Atrazine kills emerged weeds by absorption of the chemical into the plants’ leaves and stems and absorption through its roots of chemical that seeps into the ground. In the soil, atrazine is an effective preemergence herbicide , preventing weeds from sprouting.

What are the facts on atrazine?

broad spectrum weed control leads to high crop yields.

Is atrazine harmful?

Atrazine has also been found to cause endocrine disruption and reproductive effects such as increased risk of miscarriage, reduced male fertility, low birth weight, and birth defects. The environmental harm that atrazine can cause is that it is very toxic to aquatic organisms.