Back to Main Agricultural News

Atrazine developer rejects study findings

Story Added : 09th March 2010

The developer of the herbicide atrazine has dismissed new research which shows it can wreck havoc with the sexual organs of frogs.

Syngenta says nearly 6000 studies around the world have proven atrazine is environmentally safe when used as directed.

Research by the University of California found atrazine can turn male frogs into females.

But Syngenta Australia's Peter Arkle says the study has flaws and the public should trust the Australian chemical regulator.

"The Australian community can have absolute confidence in the APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority)," he says.

"They've just concluded an extensive review of atrazine, only two years ago, that looked at all of these questions.

"And the APVMA concluded that when atrazine is used in line with these instructions, it doesn't pose a risk to the environment, to the community or to food safety."

Story Added by ABC.
Date Added : 09th March 2010

Also of Interest