This document provides a general overview of human toxicity, provides a listing of laboratory animal and wildlife toxicities and a cross reference of chemical, common and trade names of triazine pesticides registered for use in Florida.
General
As a chemical family, the triazines are a group of pesticides with a wide range of uses. Most are used in selective weed control programs; others, such as prometon, have nonselective properties which make them suitable for use on industrial sites. A unique member of this family is cyromazine, which is an insect growth regulator. It is used in livestock, vegetable, and ornamental applications by interfering with insect molting and pupation. As herbicides, the triazines may be used alone or in combination with other herbicide active ingredients to increase the weed control spectrum. They are inhibitors of electron transport in photosynthesis. Tolerant plants are capable of metabolizing the active ingredient, whereas susceptible plants do not. Triazines are some of the oldest herbicides, with research initiated on their weed control properties during the early 1950s. As a family, their chemical structures are heterocyclic, composed of carbon and nitrogen in their rings. Most, except for metribuzin, are symmetrical with their altering carbon and nitrogen atoms. Herbicide members of this family include atrazine, hexazinone, metribuzin, prometon, prometryn, and simazine. Atrazine is widely used in corn, and was estimated to have been the most often-used pesticide in the U.S. during the late 1990s. Other atrazine uses include selective weed control in turfgrass, sugarcane, sweet corn, and sorghum. Some of its uses are classified as restricted because of ground and surface water concerns. Hexazinone is used primarily in alfalfa, pastures, pine plantations, rights-of-way, and other industrial sites. Because of its different chemical properties, metribuzin has different use patterns from the other triazine herbicides. It is used in soybean and some vegetables for selective control of broadleaf weeds. Prometryn is labeled for use in Florida on cotton, celery, and several other specialty vegetables. Simazine has the most crops and sites labeled for use of the triazines and simazine is commonly used in citrus weed control programs in Florida. Some specific uses of simazine, such as on grapes and certain berries, are classified as restricted. Product formulations of the triazine pesticides vary widely.
Toxicity
Systemic toxicity is unlikely unless large amounts have been ingested. Some of the triazines are moderately irritating to the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Atrazine is considered slightly to moderately toxic to humans. The EPA has established a Lifetime Health Advisory Level for atrazine in drinking water of 3 micrograms per liter. Water containing atrazine at or below this level is acceptable for drinking every day over the course of ones lifetime, and does not pose any health risk. Long-term consumption of high levels of atrazine has caused adverse health effects in animals, including tremors, changes in organ weights, and damage to the liver and heart. Hexazinone is not considered to be acutely toxic, but can cause serious and irreversibly eye damage. Because of this ability, the signal work it bears on its label is "DANGER."
During the 1980s, metribuzin was restricted in its use classification by the EPA because of questions regarding groundwater contamination and chronic toxicity. Later, manufacturers of metribuzin resolved this once they submitted the necessary data to disprove these concerns. It is now classified as a general use pesticide. Prometon products bear the signal word "WARNING" because of substantial but temporary eye injury potential. Any serious toxic effects caused by prometon, prometryn, or simazine are not likely.
As a family of pesticides, the triazines are one of the least toxic to wildlife. Only prometon is considered as moderately toxic to fish. No adverse effects to bees are known.
Mammalian toxicities for the triazine pesticides are shown in Table 1. Table 2 lists the toxicities to wildlife by the common name of the pesticide. Table 3 provides a cross listing of many of the trade names that these products are registered and sold by in Florida.
Additional Information
Crop Protection Handbook. 2005. vol. 91. Willoughby, Ohio: Meister Publishing Co. http://store.meistermedia.com/
Nesheim, O.N., F.M. Fishel and M.A. Mossler. 2005. Toxicity of Pesticides. PI-13. Gainesville: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pi008
Reigart, J.R. and J.R. Roberts. 1999. Recognition and management of pesticide poisonings, 5th edition. United States Environmental Protection Agency Publication EPA-735-R-98-003.
Seyler, L.A., et.al. 1994. Extension toxicology network (EXTOXNET). Cornell University and Michigan State University. http://extoxnet.orst.edu/index.html. Visited July 2005.
Tomlin, C. (Ed.). 1994. A World Compendium. The Pesticide Manual. Incorporating the agrochemicals handbook. (10th ed.). Bungay, Suffolk, U.K.: Crop Protection Publications.
