Although the European Union had banned the use of atrazine in food several years ago, our governing body known as the Environmental Protections Agency (EPA) has not removed this toxin from our agricultural systems.   Protecting our developing children from the birth defects, deformities and cancer that can result from atrazine doesn’t seem to motivate the governing body to take action.

What is atrazine? It is a triazine herbicide used to spray most of the crops produced in America

How are we exposed? We eat, drink and in some cases breath (crop dusting) it.  It is used primarily on corn crops

What is the deadly amount?  Americans consume outrageous quantities of this nasty stuff each year.  Due to the fat solubility of this chemical it doesn’t easily wash off and once it enters your body it is stored in your fat cells.

How does it kill?  Atrazine kills most notably by cancer; it has also been shown to interfere with the cellular uptake of dopamine - having the effect of causing Parkinson’s.  It also inhibits the mitochondrial ATP production of sperm - meaning sperm don’t have enough energy to swim through the reproductive organs (think infertility). 

How can I avoid? Eat only organic produce, don’t drink well water and know where your produce is coming from. Eating organic is worth the extra 29 cents for that avocado, or tomato.  

Unfortunately, the department of agriculture is still feeding the paradox that organic farmers cannot compete with the growth from that of non-organic farmers. To balance supply and demand non-organic farmers are actually paid not to release much of the crops they grow each year.  Atrazine isn’t going away.  Eat organic.