Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Atrazine weed-killer in US drinking water supply



See also the Huffington Post, EPA fails to inform public about weed-killer in drinking water

...and DemocracyNow's coverage of the story.

Atrazine is the most commonly detected pesticide in groundwater and surface water.

The Pesticide Info Database maintained by the Pesticide Action Network identifies atrazine as a carcinogen, suspected endocrine disruptor, and posing a very high risk for groundwater contamination. For these reasons they classify the herbicide as a "Bad Actor." See the Pesticide Info entry for atrazine for more information about its ecological and human health effects.

For more information on pesticide environmental toxicology, see the following:

Pesticides in the Nation’s Streams and Groundwater, 1992 – 2001 Report by the US Geological Survey.

Pesticide Degradates of Concern to the Drinking Water Community Report by the American Water Works Association.

The Human Toxome Project Datasets on the human body burden of hundreds of industrial chemicals and pollutants including pesticides.

Agrochemicals, Health and Environment Directory of resources from the World Health Organization.

TOXNET Toxicology Data Network A cluster of databases on toxicology and hazardous chemicals, including pesticides, gateways to search engines for both research literature on health impacts, and guidance/policymaking materials from the US National Library of Medicine.

Agricultural Health Study A study of over 89 000 people that explores the health impacts of pesticide use among farmers and their families, and among commercial pesticide applicators, in the US. Many links to papers on aspects of health risk from use of pesticides, including risks of cancers and premature mortality. National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Environment Health Sciences, USEPA.

Pesticide Safety Data Sheets Basic information on toxicology and use of pesticides. World Health Organization and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

A Shopper’s Guide to Pesticide Residues in Food by the Environmental Working Group.

Do You Know What You’re Eating? An analysis of US government data on pesticide residues in food by the Consumers Union of the US.

What’s On My Food? Guide to pesticide residues in food.

EXTOXNET The Extension Toxicology Network. A database providing a variety of information about pesticides, toxicology, and environmental chemistry. Compiled and maintained by University of California-Davis, Oregon State University, Michigan State University, and the University of Idaho.