Atrazine residues in estuarine water and the aerial deposition of atrazine into Rhode River, Maryland

Abstract

Water samples from the Rhode River, an estuary situated on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, were analyzed for atrazine residues twice a week for 2 yr. Precipitation samples, which included dryfall, rainfall, and snowfall were collected with wide-mouth stainless steel collection pans situated about 20 m above ground in an open space. A total of 68 precipitation samples was collected from December 1976 to February 1979. Atrazine residues were detectable in estuarine water and in rainwater year-round. Atrazine residues in estuarine water were generally 6 to 190 ng 1-t; atrazine residues in rainwater (bulk precipitation) were 3 to 2190 ng 1 1. Atrazine residues in rainwater samples collected during the winter season (January to April 1977) were unexpectedly high (e.g., 3 to 970 ngl-1). The highest atrazine concentration of 2190 ng 1-1 was detected from a 0.76 cm rainfall event collected on May 19, 1977. Intermittent spraying operations of atrazine within the cornfields were generally done during May of each year. Rain samples collected during May of 1978 also showed higher atrazine residues than the rest of the 1978 growing season, but at levels much less than those detected in 1977 rainwater. Aithough high atrazine concentrations were detected in winter rainfall, these did not result in similarly higher atrazine concentrations in estuarine receiving waters. Our data showed a decline of atrazine concentrations in estuarine water in October and November which continued until a rainfall following Spring herbicide applications. Atrazine is enriched at the microsurface layer of estuarine water, but direct atmospheric input of atrazine did not seem to contribute significantly to the enrichment mechanism. Atrazine is believed to be transported long distances in polluted air masses. The estuarine microsurface layer could be a source of atmospheric atrazine, but the importance of the source is yet to be determined. Atrazine was quantitatively determined by GC using a nitrogen specific electrolytic detector and was confirmed by GC/Mass. Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 15 (1981) 173-184.

Agricultural pesticides and selected degradation products in five tidal regions and the main stem of Chesapeake Bay, USA

“…Glyphosate was the most‐used pesticide in Maryland in 2004 followed by chlorothalonil, atrazine, fosetyl aluminum (a fungicide), S ‐metolachlor, mancozeb, metolachlor, chlorpyrifos, potassium salts of phosphoric acid (also used as a fungicide), and 2,4‐D [17] (http://www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/2004_pesticide_use_survey.pdf). Atrazine was detected in surface water and precipitation throughout the year by researchers working in the Rhode River in the late 1970s [18]. Glotfelty et al [19] carried out a detailed examination of atrazine fate in the Wye River estuary, located just north of Chester River, and characterized conditions that create enhanced pesticide runoff to surface waters.…”

Herbicides and Their Metabolites in Rainfall: Origin, Transport, and Deposition Patterns across the Midwestern and Northeastern United States, 1990−1991

“…For example, the transport of chlorinated insecticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) into the Great Lakes is largely from atmospheric sources (11). More than two dozen agricultural pesticides have been reported in fog and rainfall in the United States (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20), Canada (21), and Europe (22,23). Examples of these pesticides include carbamate insecticides (carbaryl and carbofuran), organochlorine insecticides (chlordane, DDT, lindane, mirex, and toxaphene), and organophosphorus insecticides (chloropyrifos, diazinon, fonofos, malathion, methidathion, and parathion).…”

HERBICIDE AND NITRATE VARIATION IN ALLUVIUM UNDERLYING A CORN FIELD AT A SITE IN IOWA COUNTY, IOWA1

“…The sources of atrazine presumably are residuals from past application or precipitation. Wu (1981), Richards et al (1987), and Nations and Hallberg (1992) peaked early in the growing season, generally remained greater than 0.5 p.g/L until early September, and then gradually decreased. Cyanazine was detected in the soil zone in the first sample collected 15 days after chemical application during 1987.…”