Herbicide Found in Water May Pose Greater Danger

There has been a lot of talk in the news lately about the herbicide Atrazine. The debate? Just how much is allowable in our drinking water.
While many of us may believe that the correct response to this question should be, “None”, the reality is that according to the EPA, it is perfectly acceptable for trace amounts of the herbicide to be in drinking water. The problem is that documented spikes in atrazine in the water supplies in the agricultural areas of the US (primarily the Midwest and Southern states), may be causing unsafe levels of toxicity.
Because the EPA looks at annual average levels of the chemical in drinking-water systems, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) says this methodology misses spikes likely to occur after rain and springtime application of the herbicide.
The concern is that Atrazine can interfere with the body’s hormonal activity and the development of reproductive organs. It could also be linked to menstrual problems and endocrine-related cancers in adults.
Concerned? The good news is that Atrazine can be removed by carbon filters found in many home water treatment systems. (Read more about this story here)