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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #84958
Title: CONTRIBUTION OF HYDROXYLATED ATRAZINE DEGRADATION PRODUCTS TO THE TOTAL ATRAZINE LOAD IN MIDWESTERN STREAMS

Author
item Lerch, Robert
item BLANCHARD, PAUL - UNIV OF MO
item THURMAN, E - USGS

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/23/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The contribution of hydroxylated atrazine degradation products (HADPs) to the total atrazine load (i.e., atrazine plus stable metabolites) in streams needs to be determined in order to fully assess the impact of atrazine contamination on stream ecosystems and human health. The objectives of this study were: 1) to determine the contribution of HADPs to the total atrazine load in streams of nine Midwestern states; and 2) to discuss the mechanisms controlling the concentrations of HADPs in streams. Stream samples were collected from 95 streams in Northern Missouri at pre-plant and post-plant in 1994 and 1995, and an additional 46 streams were sampled in eight Midwestern states at post-plant of 1995. Samples were analyzed for atrazine, deethylatrazine, deisopropylatrazine, and three HADPs. Overall, frequency of HADP detections ranged from 87-100% for hydroxyatrazine (HA), 0-58% for deethylhydroxyatrazine (DEHA), and 0% for deisopropylhydroxyatrazine (DIHA) with method detection limits of 0.04-0.1 ug L**-1. Atrazine metabolites accounted for nearly 60% of the atrazine load in Northern Missouri streams at pre-plant, with HA the predominant metabolite present. Data presented in this study and a continuous monitoring study are used to support the hypothesis that a combination of desorption from stream sediments and dissolved-phase transport control HADP concentrations in streams.