Atrazine is one of the most widely used herbicides in the United States and has been detected, occasionally, at low levels in drinking water sources. The biotransformation of atrazine in humans has not been fully characterized. Rodent studies suggest Phase I-dominated biotransformation with minor Phase II-mediated biotransformation by glutathione S-transferase(s) (GST). In human urine, mercaptu...

Background, aim, and scope Atrazine (2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine) is one of the most widely used herbicides for broadleaf weed and certain annual grass controls and is popular because of its effectiveness and low cost. Losses of atrazine from agricultural lands into adjacent surface water and underlying groundwater have raised public concerns. Several computer models h...

Currently, the purity of hybrid seed is a crucial limiting factor when developing hybrid japonica rice (Oryza sativa L.). To chemically control hybrid seed purity, we transferred an improved atrazine chlorohydrolase gene (atzA) from Pseudomonas ADP into hybrid japonica parental lines (two maintainers, one restorer), and Nipponbare, by using Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. We subsequently...

At Florida's southeastern tip, sweet corn (Zea Mays) is grown commercially during winter months. Most fields are treated with atrazine (6-chloro-N-ethyl-N'-[1-methylethyl]-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine). Hydrogeologic conditions indicate a potential for shallow groundwater contamination. This was investigated by measuring the parent compound and three degradates--DEA (6-chloro-N-[1-methylethyl]-1,...

Atrazine herbicide is known to disrupt the endocrine system and potentially carcinogenic. The long-term use of this results in high residue levels soil, causing water contamination agricultural land. Microbial degradation represents a cost-effective way eco-restoration compared more expensive physicochemical methods, especially soil settings. Growth atrazine by microorganisms are optimal at spe...

We report here the 7,259,392-bp draft genome of Pseudomonas sp. strain ADP. This is a bacterial strain that was first isolated in the 1990s from soil for its ability to mineralize the herbicide atrazine. It has extensively been studied as a model to understand the atrazine biodegradation pathway. This genome will be used as a reference and compared to evolved populations obtained by experimenta...

Smectites, clay minerals commonly found in soils and sediments, vary widely in their ability to adsorb organic chemicals. Recent research has demonstrated the importance of surface charge density and properties of exchangeable cations in controlling the affinity of smectites for organic molecules. In this study, we induced hysteresis in the crystalline swelling of smectites to test the hypothes...

Pathogenic diseases and environmental contaminants are two of the leading hypotheses for global amphibian declines, yet few studies have examined the influence of contaminants on disease susceptibility. In this study, we examined effects of ecologically relevant doses of atrazine (0, 1.6, 16, and 160 microg/L), sodium nitrate (0, 6.8, 68 mg/L), and their interactions on susceptibility of four l...

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) protect host plants against diverse biotic and abiotic stresses, and promote biodegradation of various contaminants. In this study effect of Glomus mosseae/Medicago sativa mycorrhiza on atrazine degradation was investigated. It was observed that the atrazine degradation rates with any addition level in mycorrhizal treatments were all significantly higher than ...

A separation-free electrochemical immunoassay method for the detection of the pesticide atrazine is described. The method developed is a competitive ELISA incorporating disposable screen printed horseradish peroxidase modified electrodes as the detector element in conjunction with single-use atrazine immuno-membranes. Screen printed carbon electrodes were prepared using carbon ink incorporating...