Distribution patterns, sources and risk assessment of atrazine in the Naseri wetland, as the biggest artificial water body in South of Iran

Purpose

The Naseri Artificial Wetland was created by the discharge of agricultural drainage water, including effluent from the sugarcane development project. The continuous inflow of drainage water from the sugarcane development units has altered the natural regime of the wetland. Considering the high probability of herbicides entering agricultural runoff, this study was conducted to identify atrazine and to assess the health risks of it in this wetland.

Methods

Sixty water samples from the wetland and 15 samples from the drainage channel were collected in three seasons: June (summer), October (Autumn), and February(winter). Variables such as electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and pH were also monitored at the sampling points.

Results

The average measured ATZ concentration in NAW was lowest in June (0.015 mg/L) and was 0.021 mg/L in October and 0.024 mg/L in February. The average ATZ concentration in the drainage channel in June, October, and February was 0.03, 0.04, and 0.05 mg/L, respectively. The average electrical conductivity and pH in June and October were 29,900 µS/cm, 28,544 µS/cm and 7.29 and 7.28, respectively. The maximum and minimum values ​​of temperature were 30.7 °C in June and 8.6 in February.

Conclusion

The health risk for children and adults, based on the HQ index, was calculated to be 0.12 and 0.014, respectively. Additionally, the carcinogenic risk, based on the ILCR index, was calculated to be 2.7E-2 and 3.2E-3, respectively, which indicates the risk of carcinogenic.