Atrazine characterization: An update on uses, monitoring, effects, and environmental impact, for the development of regulatory policies in Argentina

GAGNETEN, A.M.; REGALDO, L.; CARRIQUIRIBORDE, P.; RENO, U.; KERGARAVAT, S.V.; BUTINOF, M.; AGOSTINI, H.; ALVAREZ, M.; HARTE, A.

Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management

Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)

Año: 2022

1551-3777

Atrazine (ATZ) is the third most widely used herbicide in Argentina (10 thousand t/year), and is approved for sugar cane, flax, corn, sorghum, and tea. An assessment of the ATZ environmental impacts was conducted at the request of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Argentina. A review of 541 national and international technical and scientific reports and a survey among agricultural technicians, applicators, and producers were carried out. The survey showed that 94% of ATZ applications are terrestrial and use diversion exists, mainly associated with soybean cultivation. ATZ was reported at high frequencies (50-100%) in surface and groundwater, sediments, and soils, sometimes exceeding permitted limits. Several sublethal effects induced by ATZ on invertebrate and vertebrate species were found, sometimes at concentrations lower than those in water quality guidelines (