Gateway on Pesticide Hazards and Safe Pest Management
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Atrazine
General Information
- Fact Sheet: Atrazine.pdf
- Product Names:
- Chemical Class: Triazine herbicide
- Uses: To control broadleaf and grassy weeds in corn, sorghum, and sugarcane, wheat, guava, macadamia nuts, and range grasses and for several nonagricultural use sites such as ornamentals, Christmas trees, sod and residential lawns and golf courses (in the Southeast)
- Alternatives: Organic agriculture, Organic Lawn care
- Beyond Pesticides rating:
Health and Environmental Effects
- Cancer: Yes ()
- Endocrine Disruption: Known ()
- Reproductive Effects: Yes ()
- Neurotoxicity: Yes ()
- Kidney/Liver Damage: Yes ()
- Sensitizer/ Irritant: Yes ()
- Birth/Developmental: Yes ()
- Detected in Groundwater: Yes ()
- Potential Leacher: Yes ()
- Toxic to Birds: Not documented
- Toxic to Fish/Aquatic Organisms: Yes ()
- Toxic to Bees: Not documented
Residential Uses as Found in the ManageSafe™ Database
Additional Information
- Regulatory Status:
- Supporting information:
- Studies:
- Trends in pesticide concentrations and use for major rivers of the United States. Ryberg, K.R and Gilliom, R.J. 2015. Science of the Total Environment 538: 431–444.
- Demasculinization and feminization of male gonads by atrazine: Consistent effects across vertebrate classes. Hayes, T., et al. 2011. J. Steroid Biochem and Molecular Bio. 127(1-2):64-73.
- Still Poisoning the Well: Atrazine Continues to Contaminate Surface Water and Drinking Water in the United States. Wu. M, Quirindongo, M, et al. 2010. Natural Resources Defense Council. Washington DC
- Pesticide Mixtures, Endocrine Disruption, and Amphibian Declines: Are We Underestimating the Impact? Hayes et. al 2006. Environmental Health Perspectives.
- Debating How Much Weed Killer Is Safe in Your Water Glass. The New York Times, 2009.
- Agrichemicals in surface water and birth defects in the United States. Winchester, et al. April 2009.
