EPA Proposes Raising Acceptable Atrazine Pesticide Levels in Agriculture

December 7, 2024 TruthUSA

Atrazine is one of the most commonly used herbicides in the United States, although it is prohibited in the European Union.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has suggested increasing the allowable concentration levels of atrazine, which it assesses could harm aquatic plants at agricultural locations.

Atrazine is a herbicide extensively utilized for managing broadleaf and grass weeds in agricultural crops. On December 3, the EPA proposed a rise in atrazine concentration limits to 9.7 micrograms per liter—almost three times the existing limit of 3.4 micrograms.

In its proposal, the agency indicated that the new standard aims to give farmers “maximum level of flexibility” regarding atrazine usage on their crops.

Atrazine is mainly applied to crops such as field corn, sweet corn, sorghum, and sugarcane. The EPA reports that over half of the acres planted with these crops in the U.S. are treated with atrazine annually.

The application of atrazine increases growers’ net operating value by up to $30 per acre for field corn, $52 per acre for sweet corn, $16 per acre for sorghum, and $13 for sugarcane in comparison to other weed control methods.

According to the agency, “Atrazine is a crucial herbicide for these crops due to its cost-effectiveness, flexible application, long-lasting herbicidal effects, efficacy against a wide range of weeds, and its role in managing herbicide-resistant weeds.”

The EPA plans to utilize the concentration equivalent level of concern, or CE-LOC, to assess if mitigation actions are needed to prevent “detrimental changes” to aquatic plants and ecosystems resulting from atrazine application.

This proposal was first presented in July, but the latest iteration includes mitigation strategies to reduce atrazine runoff in vulnerable watersheds, such as prohibiting its application during rainfall or when soils are saturated or at capacity.

In an earlier statement, the EPA reported that the updated atrazine concentration levels have resulted in the removal of millions of acres from the 2022 watershed map where CE-LOC was expected to be exceeded, while adding “a smaller number of acres” in certain regions.

Dave Rylander, president of the Illinois Corn Growers Association, expressed support for the EPA’s proposed atrazine levels on August 1 but raised concerns about the accuracy of the mitigation maps.

“The adjustment to the CE-LOC is positive, but if the EPA continues using flawed modeling methods leading to incorrect mitigation maps, any progress made is nullified, and reliance on sound science is compromised,” he stated in a statement.

Some environmental advocates have voiced objections to the limit adjustment, highlighting the potential health risks associated with atrazine. Atrazine is recognized as an endocrine disruptor, and previous studies have linked it to breast cancer.

Beyond Pesticides, a nonprofit organization advocating for reduced pesticide use, asserted in August that the EPA’s method for assessing atrazine levels “lacks any precautionary principle.”

“The agency acknowledges numerous risks associated with atrazine use but claims that serious risks to workers and the environment are surpassed by the benefits of using atrazine,” the organization remarked.

Atrazine is broadly utilized across the U.S. and is also applied to other crops, including macadamia nuts and turf grass, yet it has been banned in the European Union.

In October, Representatives Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) introduced legislation aimed at prohibiting “the use, production, sale, importation, or exportation” of atrazine products.

“Despite its well-known risks to both human health and the environment, atrazine remains the second most utilized herbicide in the United States,” Nadler stated in a press release.

“It is long overdue for our country to transition away from atrazine towards safer and more sustainable practices,” he added.

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