Simazine
Definition of simazine:
Simazine belongs to the same class of herbicides as atrazine. It is widely used as a selective herbicide to control most annual grasses and broadleaf weeds before they emerge or after removal of weed growth.
[1]
This is the common definition for simazine, other definitions can be discussed in the article
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Notes
| Simazine |
|---|
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| Formula |
| C7H12ClN5 |
In the USA, an estimated 2000 to 2500 tons of simazine are applied to agricultural crops (mainly on corn, fruits and nuts) each year, and an additional 500 tons are applied for nonagricultural uses. It mainly enters the marine environment through run off from application sites. [1]
Simazine is moderately soluble (3,5 mg/L) and has a low tendency to be absorbed to organic matter or into the soil, although it can adsorb to clay particles. Therefore simazine is highly mobile and can leach into ground water systems. It has low volatility and losses of simazine by evaporation into the atmosphere are therefore expected to be rather low. According to laboratory studies simazine is persistent and able to persist into the environment for months, as it takes 90 days to half its concentration.
Simazine has a low potential to bioaccumulate in fish and is therefore not expected to biomagnify through food chains.[1]
Simazine is moderately toxic to aquatic animals. Some fish species only start dying when exposed to concentrations above 100 mg/l, although others can't tolerate concentrations above 3 mg/l. Oysters die at concentration above 3,7 mg/l. Algae however are highly affected by low concentrations of the herbicide. Concentrations of only 6 µg/l are already toxic for some algae species. [2]
The maximum concentrations measured in an UK estuary was 0,39 µg/l. [3]
Environmental standards and legislation
Included in the water framework list of priority substances
See also
