Atrazine: its occurrence and treatment in water

摘要

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