Atrazine: its occurrence and treatment in water

Abstract

A comprehensive review of atrazine including its use, properties, environmental fate, toxicological effects, occurrence in water, a summary of criteria for drinking water and the efficiency of various water treatment options for its removal was conducted. Atrazine is ubiquitous in surface water, groundwater, and precipitation, due to its widespread use for the control of broadleaf and grassy weeds mainly in corn crops. Atrazine is considered a priority substance by the USEPA, Agriculture Canada, and the European Commission. It causes developmental deformities and impacts behavior in frogs and fish. Atrazine has been implicated as a possible endocrine disrupting compound and has been associated with various cancers in humans such as stomach, prostate, breast, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Guidelines and standards governing maximum acceptable concentrations in fresh and marine waters are scarce and those for drinking water vary significantly between agencies. The effectiveness of tertiary water treatment technologies for the removal of atrazine demonstrates varying efficiencies. Variations in the quality of source water and the presence of natural organic matter present significant challenges for its removal.