Atrazine residues in surface water from various agricultural areas of el-Behera Governorate, Egypt

Abstract EN

Herbicides contribute significantly to increasing and enhancing both crop yield and quality through compacting herbs that compete with these crops.

However, overuse of these chemicals might adversely affect aquatic ecosystem microorganisms and eventually human health.

Residues of the extensively applied herbicide atrazine in irrigation surface water samples from El-Behera, the leading agricultural Governorate in Egypt.

Water samples were collected from 26 sites in El-Behera and analyzed using gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS).

Results revealed significant variation of atrazine levels in irrigation water between these 26 sites.

Water samples from Kafr El-Dawwar had the least amount (3.125±0.0894 µg/L), while samples from Hosh Essa had the greatest residue of atrazine (109.181±15.778 µg/L).

The obtained results may represent the trends and amounts of atrazine used in the El-Behera Governorate.

These results may be concerning to the potential adverse effects due to the inappropriate use of atrazine.