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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2013, Vol. 12 Issue (2): 305-313    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(13)60229-4
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Impact of Long-Term Atrazine Use on Groundwater Safety in Jilin Province, China
 GENG Yue, MA Jing, JIA Ran, XUE Li-qin, TAO Chuan-jiang, LI Chong-jiu, MA Xiao-dong , LIN Yan
1.College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, P.R.China
2.Institute for the Control of Agrochemicals, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100125, P.R.China
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摘要  The long-lasting application of representative herbicide atrazine (ATR) has given rise to the accumulation of its residues in the groundwater. To investigate the impact of long-term ATR use on groundwater safety, the residues of ATR and its metabolites, desethylatrazine (DEA), deisopropylatrazine (DIA) and hydroxyatrazine (HA) were monitored in groundwater and top soil at the major corn growing region of Qian’an and Gongzhuling in Jilin Province, China. The residues of the target compounds were analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS. The limits of detection (LODs) of ATR, DEA, DIA, and HA were 0.5, 0.5, 5, and 0.5 ng L-1 in groundwater and 0.33, 0.33, 3.3, and 0.33 μg kg-1 in soil. The target compounds were found in 94% of groundwater samples and 100% of soil samples. The compounds detected most frequently in groundwater were ATR (89%), DEA (64%) and HA (17%), whereas in soil were ATR (97%), DEA (36%) and HA (97%). DIA was not detected in any determined groundwater and soil sample. Average residues were 106.8 ng L-1 for ATR, 0.9 ng L-1 for DEA and 0.3 ng L-1 for HA in groundwater, whereas 11.1 μg kg-1 for ATR, 0.4 μg kg-1 for DEA and 7.8 μg kg-1 for HA in soil. ATR residues detected in groundwater samples were below standards for drinking water quality (GB5749-2006, 2 μg L-1), while the total residues of ATR and its chloro-s-triazine metabolites (DEA and DIA) were below current WHO (World Health Organization) guideline value (GV, 0.1 mg L-1). In addition, concentrations of HA in groundwater were determined below current WHO GV (0.2 mg L-1). The results indicated that ATR is safe to be used in Jilin Province under the current application scheme. However, total residues of ATR and DEA were detected in nearly all wells, thus, it is necessary to pay attention on groundwater monitoring for ATR and its metabolites.

Abstract  The long-lasting application of representative herbicide atrazine (ATR) has given rise to the accumulation of its residues in the groundwater. To investigate the impact of long-term ATR use on groundwater safety, the residues of ATR and its metabolites, desethylatrazine (DEA), deisopropylatrazine (DIA) and hydroxyatrazine (HA) were monitored in groundwater and top soil at the major corn growing region of Qian’an and Gongzhuling in Jilin Province, China. The residues of the target compounds were analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS. The limits of detection (LODs) of ATR, DEA, DIA, and HA were 0.5, 0.5, 5, and 0.5 ng L-1 in groundwater and 0.33, 0.33, 3.3, and 0.33 μg kg-1 in soil. The target compounds were found in 94% of groundwater samples and 100% of soil samples. The compounds detected most frequently in groundwater were ATR (89%), DEA (64%) and HA (17%), whereas in soil were ATR (97%), DEA (36%) and HA (97%). DIA was not detected in any determined groundwater and soil sample. Average residues were 106.8 ng L-1 for ATR, 0.9 ng L-1 for DEA and 0.3 ng L-1 for HA in groundwater, whereas 11.1 μg kg-1 for ATR, 0.4 μg kg-1 for DEA and 7.8 μg kg-1 for HA in soil. ATR residues detected in groundwater samples were below standards for drinking water quality (GB5749-2006, 2 μg L-1), while the total residues of ATR and its chloro-s-triazine metabolites (DEA and DIA) were below current WHO (World Health Organization) guideline value (GV, 0.1 mg L-1). In addition, concentrations of HA in groundwater were determined below current WHO GV (0.2 mg L-1). The results indicated that ATR is safe to be used in Jilin Province under the current application scheme. However, total residues of ATR and DEA were detected in nearly all wells, thus, it is necessary to pay attention on groundwater monitoring for ATR and its metabolites.
Keywords:  atrazine       desethylatrazine       deisopropylatrazine       hydroxyatrazine       groundwater       soil       UPLC-MS/MS  
Received: 05 April 2012   Accepted:
Fund: 

This research was financed by the Key Technologies R&D Program of China during the 11th Five-Year Plan period (2006BAK02A0407).

Corresponding Authors:  Correspondence LIN Yan, Tel/Fax: +86-10-62733084, E-mail: linyan@cau.edu.cn     E-mail:  linyan@cau.edu.cn
About author:  GENG Yue, Tel: +86-10-62733084, E-mail: gengyue1984@msn.com

Cite this article: 

GENG Yue, MA Jing, JIA Ran, XUE Li-qin, TAO Chuan-jiang, LI Chong-jiu, MA Xiao-dong , LIN Yan. 2013. Impact of Long-Term Atrazine Use on Groundwater Safety in Jilin Province, China. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 12(2): 305-313.

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