Syngenta stands by the safety of atrazine

For a new economic study - Would banning atrazine benefit farmers?, published in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health demonstrates that eliminating the herbicide atrazine, widely used on U.S. corn crops, will economically benefit corn growers.  Syngenta US released statement again standing by the safety of atrazine.

The study concludes that eliminating atrazine and opting for proven alternatives would not only improve farmer revenues but also avoid costs to human health and the environment. “The winners,” the authors conclude, “in an atrazine free future would include farm worker, farmers and their families, and other who are exposed to atrazine either directly from field uses or indirectly from contaminated tap water along with natural ecosystem that are currently damaged by atrazine.”

"Our goal always has been to clearly communicate the facts about atrazine and correct the record where there is misinformation regarding the established safety of our product. And we will continue to defend our product and encourage others to share their knowledge, experience and scientific data about the safety and benefits of atrazine. " Syngenta stated.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a rigorous and transparent registration process for products like atrazine. This process relies on sound science and requires more than 120 health, safety and environmental tests conducted under strict regulations as well as public disclosure of data, and numerous opportunities for public comment and input. As part of its safety record, atrazine has passed multiple reviews by the EPA that included a definitive study demonstrating atrazine has no impact on amphibian reproductive health (Kloas, 2009). In 2012, EPA reaffirmed its position, stating ‘…no additional testing is warranted to address this issue.’

"Atrazine is one of the most carefully studied and thoroughly tested compounds in the world. Nearly 7,000 scientific studies conducted over more than 50 years establish its safety for humans and the environment. EPA, the World Health Organization and government regulators in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Australia have found atrazine to be safe at levels found in the environment. Scientists have also documented the extensive environmental and economic benefits farmers who safely use atrazine have been experiencing for more than 50 years.

Sound science has shown that atrazine does not and cannot cause adverse effects at levels that people would ever be exposed to in the real-world environment. That’s why millions of farmers rely on atrazine to protect our food supply and help feed the world."