Atrazine is a commonly used agricultural chemical in the United States used most often to control broadleaf and grassy weeds in fields of corn, sugarcane, sugar and sorghum. Its popularity is due to atrazine's effectiveness as well as its cost to farmers, but is continually under scrutiny due to its potentially toxic effects and contamination of drinking water.
Toxicity
Atrazine has shown acute and chronic toxicity effects in humans and animal studies. Acute toxicity is negative effects due to short-term exposure while chronic toxicity occurs from long-term exposure to a harmful substance. Acute atrazine toxicity may cause abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. It is a mild irritant capable of producing skin rashes, mucous membrane irritation and eye irritation, according to the Extension Toxicology Network. Large doses in rat studies have shown muscle weakness, breathing difficulties, convulsions and death. Chronic exposure over a period of six months in rats caused respiratory distress and paralysis, leading to changes to nearly every organ of the body and death.
Reproductive Effects
Atrazine may be harmful to the reproductive system in humans based upon research studies in rats. It may disrupt normal hormone production and functioning. According to the National Resource Defense Council, or NRDC, atrazine exposure may lower sperm count, decrease testosterone production and increase insulin resistance, which can increase the risk of diabetes. The NRDC also reports that atrazine may be linked to poor birth outcomes in humans, specifically due to exposure to atrazine in drinking water. Low birth weight and defects in the walls of the digestive system were linked to higher levels of atrazine in tap water and waterways, respectively.
Considerations
The majority of studies evaluating atrazine exposure have been performed in rats and although negative health effects have been documented in rats, it still remains unclear what the potential effects atrazine may have on humans. The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, has classified atrazine as not likely to be carcinogenic -- the ability to cause cancer -- in humans. The EPA and other government protection agencies have restricted the use of atrazine as well as set limits on the amount of atrazine that can be safely found in food, water and the environment.
References
- Natural Resources Defense Council: Atrazine Continues to Contaminate Surface Water and Drinking Water in the United States
- Oregon State University Extension Toxicology Network: Atrazine
- American Cancer Society: Known and Probable Human Carcinogens
- United States Environmental Protection Agency: Atrazine Updates
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