Effects of Atrazine in Fish, Amphibians, and Reptiles: An Analysis Based on Quantitative Weight of Evidence

Atrazine and its degradates have little effect on the corticosteroid stress response in the zebrafish

“…Despite these concerns, a weight of evidence analysis examining the effects of atrazine on fish, amphibians and reptiles concluded that the effects of atrazine were not translated to adverse outcomes in terms of apical endpoints despite its potential to affect biomarker-type responses, such as expression of genes and/or associated proteins, concentrations of hormones, and biochemical processes (e.g. induction of detoxification responses) at concentrations sometimes found in the environment (Van Der Kraak et al, 2014). This still leaves the question of the significance of the effects of atrazine on stress physiology.…”

“…Atrazine levels in aquatic environments have been reviewed in several publications and it has been shown that N 95% of the 90th centile concentrations of atrazine measured in surface waters across the US were b 20 μg/L and concentrations of N 100 μg/L were observed b1% of the time and were all b 14 days in duration (Solomon et al, 1996;Giddings et al, 2005;Van Der Kraak et al, 2014). Some studies showed that atrazine did not affect cortisol levels.…”

“…In terms of studies with fish, the effects of atrazine are highly variable and interpretation of these results is often confounded in that many of these studies were conducted at atrazine concentrations that greatly exceed the levels that would be encountered in the environment (reviewed in Solomon et al, 2008;Van Der Kraak et al, 2014). Atrazine levels in aquatic environments have been reviewed in several publications and it has been shown that N 95% of the 90th centile concentrations of atrazine measured in surface waters across the US were b 20 μg/L and concentrations of N 100 μg/L were observed b1% of the time and were all b 14 days in duration (Solomon et al, 1996;Giddings et al, 2005;Van Der Kraak et al, 2014).…”

DDT exposure of frogs: A case study from Limpopo Province, South Africa

“…Exposure to methoxychlor, an estrogenic chemical, resulted in reduced size and misshapen right testes of X. tropicalis (Fort et al 2004). Reviews that considered abnormal testicular morphology rarely referred to asymmetry (Lutz et al 2008;Mann et al 2009;Rohr and McCoy 2010;Solomon et al 2008;van den Kraak et al 2014), but do refer to discontinuous gonads (or segmental aplasia).…”

Effects of atrazine on egg masses of the yellow-spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) and its endosymbiotic alga (Oophila amblystomatis)

“…Fish and Wildlife Service, it is listed as a "specially protected amphibian" under Ontario's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (1997) in light of these types of threats. Since its wide distribution includes major agricultural regions of North America, and given the apparent benefits derived from the algal association, exposures to herbicides that impair algal performance represents a plausible adverse outcome pathway (AOP) for this species (Van Der Kraak et al, 2014).…”