Farm Pollutant into US Drinking Water26/08/2009 |
|
| This weekend, the New York Times had a story about how atrazine, used on farms, lawns and golf courses to kill weeds , has made its way into the US's drinking water. The levels are particularly bad in farm states, including Maryland. |
|
More than 69 percent of the state's population was exposed to atrazine, raking Maryland second. The actual number of Marylanders exposed was also among the highest. Studies link atrazine to low birth weight, birth defects and menstrual problems, the Times says. Lab animals also seemed more likely to develop cancer.
Federal regulators insist the population isn't exposed to enough of the chemical to cause harm. Some scientists and health advocates disagree. Obama administration officials are likely to take another look.
The European Union, for example, has not studied the health risks but has banned atrazine as a precaution because it can easily contaminate groundwater. In the US, in the meantime, health advocates say pregnant women or others could avoid the chemical by drinking bottled water or using a filtration system. Source: New York Times & Baltimore Sun Website: http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/green/2009/08/farm_pollutant_makes_its_way_i.html 
Comments (1):
|
© 2012 Geomares Publishing Copyright reserved. 