Atrazine

What is Atrazine?

Atrazine is a synthetic herbicide widely used in agriculture to control weeds in crops such as corn, sugarcane, sorghum, pineapples, and other row crops. It remains one of the most commonly applied pesticides across farming regions in the United States, parts of Europe, and elsewhere around the world.

Highly soluble in water, atrazine is designed to dissolve into soil and be absorbed by plants. Unfortunately, that same property makes it easy for atrazine to leach into groundwater, streams, and rivers—eventually entering the drinking water supply for millions of people.

What Health Effects Does Atrazine Have?

Atrazine is classified as an endocrine disruptor, meaning it interferes with human hormone systems. According to health authorities including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), exposure has been linked to serious health risks:

• Reproductive and developmental harm: Linked to low birth weight, preterm delivery, and birth defects when exposure occurs during pregnancy.

• Hormonal disruption: Increased estrogen in women and reduced testosterone in men, which may affect fertility.

• Cancers: Studies have associated atrazine exposure with ovarian cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and other cancers.

• Child health risks: Early-life exposure has been linked to developmental delays and long-term health effects.

Children and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable, as their developing systems are far more sensitive to hormonal interference.

How Does Atrazine Get Into Tap Water?

Atrazine contamination primarily occurs through agricultural runoff. After being sprayed on crops, rainfall washes atrazine into rivers, reservoirs, and groundwater that serve as sources of drinking water.

Key facts:

• Atrazine does not easily break down in water, sunlight, or heat, meaning it lingers in the environment for long periods.

• Levels in tap water often spike seasonally, especially in spring and summer when farming use is highest.

• Water utilities typically report an annual average of atrazine levels, which can mask the seasonal peaks where concentrations are much higher than the yearly figure suggests.

Contamination can also occur through food residues, livestock feed, and even inhalation or skin contact for those living near treated fields.

Who is Most at Risk?

Although atrazine can impact anyone, certain groups face significantly greater risks:

• Pregnant women and unborn children: Exposure during pregnancy can affect fetal development, leading to birth defects and reproductive issues.

• Infants and young children: Developing bodies are more vulnerable to hormone disruption and developmental delays.

• Rural and farming communities: People living near heavily treated agricultural land are at higher risk of exposure via water, food, and even air.

• High-consumption individuals: Families or athletes drinking large volumes of tap water during peak agricultural seasons are at risk of greater exposure.

How to Avoid or Remove Atrazine from Your Water

Boiling water does not remove atrazine—in fact, it can increase the concentration as water evaporates. Bottled water is not necessarily safer either, as some brands draw from the same contaminated sources.

The most reliable protection comes from advanced filtration systems designed to target pesticide residues and hormone-disrupting chemicals.

At PuraHome, our nanofiltration technology is engineered to reduce atrazine and over 150 other contaminants directly at the tap. Unlike standard jug filters or basic carbon systems, our filters provide science-backed protection you can see—giving families confidence that every drop of water is safe.

Protecting your loved ones from atrazine isn’t just about cleaner water—it’s about safeguarding future generations from invisible chemical threats.