Atrazine and Human Health

Abstract

The atrazine, simazine, ametryne, propazine, its metabolites and its residues have been detected in surface water, rainwater, tile drainage, and groundwater at concentrations exceeding the maximum contaminant level of 3 mg/L set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Atrazine has a lot of adverse effect on health such as tumors, breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers as well as leukemia and lymphoma. It is an endocrine disrupting chemical interrupting regular hormone function and causing birth defects, reproductive tumors, and weight loss in amphibians as well as humans. It also causes induction of the detoxifying hepatic microsomal oxidative enzymes, continual synthesis of esterases, physiological adaptation to decreased esterase levels, and adaptation of cholinergic receptors. The main objective of the present work is to study the various effect of atrazine on human health.