Pesticides & Herbicides in Drinking Water
Agricultural pesticides and herbicides contaminate water through runoff, causing hormone disruption, cancer risk, and developmental problems. Common in farming regions.
Common Pesticides in Water
Herbicides (Most Common)
- • Atrazine - corn herbicide, endocrine disruptor
- • Glyphosate (Roundup) - probable carcinogen
- • 2,4-D - lawn herbicide, hormone disruptor
- • Simazine - weed killer
Insecticides
- • Chlorpyrifos - neurotoxin
- • Malathion - nervous system damage
- • Neonicotinoids - bee-killing chemicals
Health Effects
- • Hormone disruption (especially atrazine)
- • Increased cancer risk (lymphoma, leukemia)
- • Birth defects and developmental delays
- • Nervous system damage
- • Reproductive problems
- • Thyroid dysfunction
- • Weakened immune system
Most Vulnerable: Pregnant women, infants, children, and agricultural workers face highest exposure and risk.
EPA Regulation & Limits
EPA regulates dozens of pesticides with varying MCLs. Common examples:
- Atrazine: 3 µg/L (critics argue should be 0.1 µg/L)
- Glyphosate: 700 µg/L
- 2,4-D: 70 µg/L
Many states have stricter limits. Cocktail effects of multiple pesticides poorly understood.
Most Affected Regions
- • Corn Belt states (atrazine especially high)
- • California agricultural valleys
- • Areas with intensive row crop farming
- • Near golf courses and lawn care operations
- • Downstream of agricultural areas
Groundwater in farming regions most affected. Seasonal variation - higher after spring/summer application.
Testing & Removal
Testing
Must test for specific pesticides. Comprehensive pesticide panels: $200-500 from EPA-certified labs. Recommended for private wells in agricultural areas.
Removal Methods
1. Reverse Osmosis - 95%+ removal
Most effective for broad spectrum of pesticides
2. Activated Carbon - 70-95% removal
Effective for many (not all) pesticides. Look for NSF Standard 53 certification
3. Distillation - 98%+ removal
Very effective but slow and energy-intensive
Note: Removal effectiveness varies by pesticide type. Some pesticides harder to remove than others.