Study finds weed killer affects frogs sexually

[abc]

Study finds weed killer affects frogs sexually


December 5, 2009

OTTAWA � The widely used weed killer atrazine affects the sexual
development of frogs, raising questions about the effects of its use in
the environment, the University of Ottawa has reported.

A study by researchers at the university found that at low levels
comparable to those measured in the Canadian environment, fewer
tadpoles reached the froglet stage and the ratio of females to males
increased.

"Atrazine is one of the top-selling herbicides used worldwide and was
designed to inhibit weed growth in cornfields," the university said in
a statement.

"It is so widely used that it can be detected in many rivers, streams
and in some water supplies. This has raised the alarm on the
possibility of other serious detrimental environmental effects."

Syngenta AG, a major Swiss manufacturer of atrazine, has long defended
its safety. The company has said it is one of the best-studied
herbicides available and pointed to previous safety reviews from the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and World Health
Organization, among others.

The EPA said in October that it was reviewing the health impacts of the
herbicide. Some studies have tied it to birth defects, low birth weight
and premature babies.