engleski

Evaluation of surface water pollution with atrazine, an enocrine disruptor chemical, in agricultural areas of Turopolje, Croatia

Corn (Zea mays) is the leading culture according to sown area in Croatia. s-Triazines, and atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1, 3, 5-triazine) in particular, are most widely used in weed control of corn crops. In Croatia, products of atrazine are used in formulations of pure atrazine or in ready mix combination with other herbicides applied in pre-emergence or post-emergence (Maceljski et al. 2005). Due to its chemical properties, atrazine is characterized by high water mobility and environmental persistence (Kramer et al. 2001). Because of these atrazine properties and its longlasting use as a plant-protecting agent in Croatia, residues of this contaminant have been identified in the samples of surface, ground, and drinking waters (Vidaček et al. 1995 ; Gojmerac et al. 1996). The possible intake of atrazine residues and its dealkylated biodegradation products (de-ethyl atrazine) with drinking water poses a health risk for humans, since the results of previous studies point to the toxic effect of atrazine residues on the reproductive system (Cooper et al. 2000 ; Gojmerac et al. 2004). The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of atrazine monitoring in surface water of the corn-production area of Turopolje (west Croatia), with the soil characterized by high hydraulic conductivity.

atrazine; herbicide; residues; surface water

nije evidentirano