Atrazine In Drinking Water

17th  June, 2024.

In this post, we will see the concept of atrazine in drinking water.

Pesticides and insecticides play a very important role in agriculture. How they help in killing insects, nurturing soil content, and keeping the crop life healthy. But, we also know that they are harmful for human consumption or when coming in contact with a person. One such herbicide which is very critical in water and affects life is atrazine. Not many know, but atrazine in large quantities in water can affect living organisms in many ways. It is thus necessary to remove atrazine from water before consumption. In this post, we will see the concept of atrazine in water.

What is atrazine and where does it come from?

Atrazine is a herbicide which is used in agricultural fields for controlling weeds to grow around crops and nurturing soil content. It is mostly used for crops like sugarcane, pineapple, soybean, corn, macadamia, nuts, guava and wheat. The chemical component of this atrazine is chlorine, nitrogen and hydrogen. This herbicide is odorless, flammable, and white-color in powdered form. It is the second most used chemical for farms in the United States. So, it can be understood how important this pesticide is for farms. Crop production is increased to a great extent by the use of atrazine.

Now, water from agricultural drains is normally directly discharged in the various water bodies like lakes, ponds and rivers through run-off. Some can enter the air when sprayed on crops, or enter water through rainfall, or enter groundwater through soil. This causes atrazine to spread in our environment and come in contact with various living organisms. In many countries, after application in agricultural areas, atrazine has been found in groundwater at levels of 0.01–6 µg/liter. It has also been detected in drinking-water in several countries at levels of 0.01–5 µg/liter.

What does atrazine in water do to humans?

Due to the nature of use for atrazine, it is widely used in many countries for their agricultural purposes due to the benefits it provides. But, when the water we drink contains atrazine, it becomes very harmful for human consumption in large quantities. It is to be noted that out of air and water, water is the most common source containing atrazine (also because the breakdown of this chemical is slow in water). Once consumed frequently through drinking such water or touching it with hands constantly, atrazine starts to show it’s effects on the human body. Let us have a look at some of the side-effects of atrazine on human body:

1. Cardiovascular system problems

2. Reproductive problems

3. Skin irritation

4. Dermal sensitization

5. Development of cancer if exposed to prolonged use

6. Reduction in red blood cell count, hemoglobin and glucose levels

7. Liver and kidney damage

How can families reduce the risk of exposure to atrazine?

Atrazine is measured in ppb (parts per billion). The standard safe usage for living organisms is below 3 ppb. So, in the first case, if ppb is above this level, then it should not be consumed first of all. For that, atrazine monitoring systems are available which check the content of atrazine in water. Or else, you can provide the water to some laboratory for testing it. Also, once you find that the area around is mostly contaminated with it, avoid it and find some other pure source of water. This can be done with the help of local municipal bodies and authorities.

The farms using this chemical can consult proper technicians on how to safely dispose of this chemical in the environment. As it washes away easily with water, care must be taken to ensure that the discharged water goes into a non-consumable body and not a general usage one. Prevention at this very first stage reduces the risk further for persons living around. But, you should always be self-attendant and sharp to respond to the smell and taste of the water. This will help you detect atrazine levels quickly. 

A filter used commonly for minimizing it’s content before usage is a granular activated carbon filter. This is because charcoal has the property to block minute particles and suspended chemicals in water, by attracting the molecules in it’s surface through their chemical composition. Apart from ACF, other types of filters used are RO, UV, Ozone and Ion Exchange. 

I have covered some general principles related to atrazine in water. I have also not attempted to cover all the methods, as it can vary from case to case and there is no end to it. Once you are familiar with this technique, you can easily tackle all kinds of problems related to it.

Thank you for reading the post. I hope you liked it and will find a new way in this type of technology.