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The Atrazine Question

ATRAZINE IS AN HERBICIDE THAT’S WIDELY USED ON FARM FIELDS, GOLF COURSES AND LAWNS.  BUT THERE’S GROWING CONCERN ABOUT ITS SAFETY, AS YOU’LL HEAR ON THIS ENVIRONMINUTE.

MANY STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT ATRAZINE MAY BE A HUMAN REPRODUCTIVE AND HORMONE DISRUPTOR, BUT TO WHAT EXTENT IT AFFECTS OUR HEALTH IS NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD.

BARR: YOU HAVE TO ACCURATELY CHARACTERIZE EXPOSURE IF YOU'RE GOING TO DO ANY KIND OF HEALTH EFFECT STUDIES.

THAT’S DANA BARR OF THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.  HER RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE C-D-C HAS BEEN UNDERESTIMATING HUMAN EXPOSURE TO ATRAZINE BY MEASURING FOR ONLY ONE OF ITS BREAKDOWN PRODUCTS.

BARR LOOKED FOR AND FOUND OTHER ATRAZINE METABOLITES, WHICH SHE SAYS RESEARCHERS MUST ALSO TEST FOR IN ORDER TO ACCURATELY ASSESS HUMAN EXPOSURE.  IT’S A CRITICAL STEP TOWARD DETERMINING MORE CONCLUSIVELY WHAT THE IMPACT OF THIS CHEMICAL IS ON HUMAN HEALTH.

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Read Barr’s research and learn more about it from Environmental Health News.

Learn more about atrazine from the EPA.

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