Drinking atrazine in water is a dangerous health risk.
A new study indicates that women who consume water contaminated with low levels of atrazine, a weed destroyer, may be more prone to have reduced estrogen levels and irregular menstrual cycles.
Atrazine in water comes from atrazine currently being probably the most widely used herbicide in the U.
S.
It is routinely found in surface water and ground water, especially in agricultural areas, like the Midwest.
More than 70 percent of all cornfields in the United States are sprayed with atrazine on a yearly basis, leading to atrazine in drinking water used by 1000s of households.
This most recent study, comparing Illinois women to Vermont women, adds more evidence to the connection between atrazine and changed hormones.
Illinois farm community women were much more prone to experience menstrual cycle irregular bleeding than Vermont women.
Nearly five times more likely, in fact.
And, the Illinois farm women were more than 6 times more prone to go long stretches of time between periods.
The time between periods was up to six weeks.
There was also a measurably lower amount of estrogen in the Illinois women during parts of their cycle.
This is not necessarily associated with an irregular menstrual cycle after birth among these women, nevertheless the menstrual cycle irregular bleeding is quite worrisome.
Although U.
S.
EPA enforces the federal drinking water standard in both states, the Illinois communities' regular city water had twice the concentration of atrazine in water when compared to the Vermont tap water.
In addition to the atrazine in drinking water being increased, the Illinois women who drank more drinking water experienced an even greater occurrence of irregular periods.
This supports the link that it's the atrazine in water that's resulting in the problems.
Recent testing on animals in the research laboratory have indicated that atrazine in water is linked with fertility issues.
It has been associated with delayed puberty, altered hormone levels, and miscarriage.
Lori Cragin, Colorado State University epidemiologist, and co-author of the study, said these findings with regards to humans are consistent with the data from animal studies.
A 2009 study linked atrazine in drinking water to infants in Indiana having low birth weight.
And, in a National Institutes of Health study involving more than 3,000 women, those who used atrazine and other bug sprays had a greater risk of missing periods and of bleeding between periods.
Of course, the producer of atrazine does not believe the studies are correct.
The chief scientist for Syngenta suggests the actual menstrual difficulties could have been caused by something besides his company's product.
No big surprise he'd take that position.
But, the data is increasing, and is perhaps already overwhelming.
Atrazine in water is linked to menstrual cycle irregular bleeding.
This is just one more bit of data supporting the concept that drinking filtered water is much safer than the alternative.
A new study indicates that women who consume water contaminated with low levels of atrazine, a weed destroyer, may be more prone to have reduced estrogen levels and irregular menstrual cycles.
Atrazine in water comes from atrazine currently being probably the most widely used herbicide in the U.
S.
It is routinely found in surface water and ground water, especially in agricultural areas, like the Midwest.
More than 70 percent of all cornfields in the United States are sprayed with atrazine on a yearly basis, leading to atrazine in drinking water used by 1000s of households.
This most recent study, comparing Illinois women to Vermont women, adds more evidence to the connection between atrazine and changed hormones.
Illinois farm community women were much more prone to experience menstrual cycle irregular bleeding than Vermont women.
Nearly five times more likely, in fact.
And, the Illinois farm women were more than 6 times more prone to go long stretches of time between periods.
The time between periods was up to six weeks.
There was also a measurably lower amount of estrogen in the Illinois women during parts of their cycle.
This is not necessarily associated with an irregular menstrual cycle after birth among these women, nevertheless the menstrual cycle irregular bleeding is quite worrisome.
Although U.
S.
EPA enforces the federal drinking water standard in both states, the Illinois communities' regular city water had twice the concentration of atrazine in water when compared to the Vermont tap water.
In addition to the atrazine in drinking water being increased, the Illinois women who drank more drinking water experienced an even greater occurrence of irregular periods.
This supports the link that it's the atrazine in water that's resulting in the problems.
Recent testing on animals in the research laboratory have indicated that atrazine in water is linked with fertility issues.
It has been associated with delayed puberty, altered hormone levels, and miscarriage.
Lori Cragin, Colorado State University epidemiologist, and co-author of the study, said these findings with regards to humans are consistent with the data from animal studies.
A 2009 study linked atrazine in drinking water to infants in Indiana having low birth weight.
And, in a National Institutes of Health study involving more than 3,000 women, those who used atrazine and other bug sprays had a greater risk of missing periods and of bleeding between periods.
Of course, the producer of atrazine does not believe the studies are correct.
The chief scientist for Syngenta suggests the actual menstrual difficulties could have been caused by something besides his company's product.
No big surprise he'd take that position.
But, the data is increasing, and is perhaps already overwhelming.
Atrazine in water is linked to menstrual cycle irregular bleeding.
This is just one more bit of data supporting the concept that drinking filtered water is much safer than the alternative.
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