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What Is Atrazine?
Before understanding the legal ramifications of Atrazine and how injured victims can seek justice, it is important to answer the question, What is Atrazine?

Atrazine is an herbicide that is widely used around the world to control broadleaf and grassy weeds. Typically you will see this type of weed killer applied to crops that consist of corn and soybean. In addition, it is sometimes used on pineapple, sugarcane, and sorghum, as well as tree farms. It is a weed killer that is used in around 80 different countries, and is considered the most used of all herbicides. It can be found under many different brands such as AAtrex and Atratol.

Atrazine is the pesticide most used in the U.S., and is primarily found throughout the Midwest. Atrazine was used to treat as much as 64,000,000 acres of farm land in 1990 alone. According to the EPA, and the regulation of Atrazine concluded in 1992, the maximum level of Atrazine allowed in the water system is 3 ppb (parts per billion).

Due to its high use and potential for runoff into the groundwater, testing must be routinely done on the local groundwater to make sure that it is not contaminated. Despite these tight restrictions, groundwater has been contaminated by Atrazine in many areas. There are dire health concerns that are connected to the contamination of Atrazine and groundwater as it is the number two pesticide that is detected during the EPA’s drinking water survey.

In many states the use of Atrazine has been banned due to the fact that the local well water is already above the 3 ppb as specified in the law. These states include Wisconsin, New York, Nebraska, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan, Kansas, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, and Delaware. This has had great health ramifications in these areas as Atrazine has been connected as a possible cause for menstrual problems, low birth weights in babies, and even human birth defects. This is above and beyond the local damage that is done to other animals that are not specifically targeted by the pesticide.

To be safe and reduce your risk to the potential problems associated with Atrazine contamination and poisoning, it is suggested to drink bottled water and have your home water tested on a regular basis for water contaminants. It is especially important to complete routine water tests if you use well water and live near highly agricultural areas.

If you live in one of these areas and have suffered from any of these ailments, then there is a chance that you could be the victim of Atrazine contamination. Due to the possible health side effects and groundwater contamination, Atrazine has been banned from the European Union and many have called for the same to be done in the US. Recent 2009 studies have shown that even the current concentration levels of this pesticide that are allowed under US law may be dangerous to the general public.

It is important to seek legal counsel if you have been affected by the health problems that have been connected to Atrazine poisoning of well and groundwater. A free consultation will help you to know if you are entitled to a legal action against Atrazine producers and users.

Contact our law firm for a free ground water case evaluation.