ALARM RAISED ON COMMON RURAL HERBICIDE

Tuesday, 12 November 2002 10:00

"The 'nail in the coffin' is the finding that frog populations that were found in waterways where atrazine was present were more likely to show reproductive abnormalities than non-contaminated waterways. It's an endocrine disruptor," said Ben Cole, Chemicals Campaigner for Total Environment Centre.

Atrazine is one of the most heavily used herbicides in Australia. Water monitoring studies conducted by the Department of Land and Water Conservation have regularly detected its presence in waterways surrounding agricultural areas.

"The field and laboratory study, reported in the most recent edition of Nature (Vol. 419: 895 - 896), also showed that the sexual development of another species of frog was seriously disturbed by extremely low concentrations of atrazine," continued Mr. Cole.

"Frogs are a crucial part of aquatic ecosystems. We can't risk their decline."

Atrazine is used primarily in corn crops, but is also used for general weed control, sugarcane and pine plantations. Its use has already been banned in France and Italy.

The National Registration Authority, the federal body that licenses the use of pesticides and herbicides in Australia is currently reviewing the use of atrazine in Australia.
"We are pressing for it to be banned", Mr. Cole said.