OFFICE OF 

CHEMICAL SAFETY AND

POLLUTION PREVENTION

UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

WASHINGTON D.C., 20460 

PC Code: 080803

DP Barcode: 427851; 

427855; 427863; 

427864 

 April 12, 2016 

MEMORANDUM 

SUBJECT: Environmental Fate and Effects Division Review of Environmental Effects 

Studies for Atrazine. 

TO: Marianne Mannix, Chemical Review Manager 

 Kelly Sherman, Branch Chief 

 Risk Management and Implementation Branch 3 

 Pesticide Re-evaluation Division (7508P) 

FROM: Frank T. Farruggia, Ph.D., Biologist 

 Colleen M. Rossmeisl, D.V.M., M.S., Biologist 

 Environmental Risk Branch 3 

Environmental Fate and Effects Division (7507P) 

THRU: Dana Spatz, Branch Chief 

 Rosanna Louie-Juzwiak, Risk Assessment Process Leader 

Environmental Risk Branch 3 

Environmental Fate and Effects Division (7507P) 

Please find the attached data evaluation records (DERs) for the following studies evaluating the 

ecological effects of atrazine. These studies were incorporated, as appropriate, into the refined 

atrazine ecological risk assessment dated April 12, 2016. 

 

Digitally signed by FRANK FARRUGGIA 

DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, 

ou=USEPA, ou=Staff, cn=FRANK 

FARRUGGIA, dnQualifier=0000048865 

Date: 2016.04.26 08:57:14 -04'00'

Digitally signed by COLLEEN ROSSMEISL 

DN: c=US, o=U.S. Government, ou=USEPA, 

ou=Staff, cn=COLLEEN ROSSMEISL, 

dnQualifier=0000069649 

Date: 2016.04.26 10:02:10 -04'00'
2 

Table 1: Ecotoxicity Studies Reviewed by EPA. 

Guideline MRID Study Title EPA Study 

Classification Comments 

Nonguideline 48261124 McGregor, E. B., K. R. Solomon, 

and M.L. Hanson. 2008. Effects of 

planting system design on

the toxicological sensitivity of 

Myriophyllum spicatum and 

Elodea canadensis to atrazine. 

Chemosphere. 73(3): 249-260. 

Supplemental This study was originally 

reviewed for its inclusion in the 

community effects database for 

atrazine toxicity to aquatic plant 

communities. However, this 

study also investigated 

individual species in several tests 

with atrazine. The amended 

review focuses only on the 

results from individual toxicity 

testing with Elodea canadensis. 

Nonguideline 49535501 King, R.S. 2014. Effects of pulsed 

atrazine exposures on 

autotrophic biomass, community 

structure and production in fieldbased stream mesocosms. Baylor 

University, Center for Reservior 

and Aquatic Systems Research. 

Waco, TX. 

Supplemental Reviewed for inclusion in the 

CELOC calculation

850.4150 49639101 Martin J.A. Atrazine SC (A8566A) 

– Vegetative Vigor Test with 

Extended Exposure to View 

Potential Recovery. Unpublished 

study performed by Smithers 

Viscient, Wareham, 

Massachusetts and sponsored by 

Syngenta crop Protection, LLC, 

Greensboro, North Carolina. 

Laboratory Study Number: 

1781.7001. 

Supplemental This toxicity study is classified as 

supplemental for the herein 

labeled “Test 1”-21-day Study. 

The study authors failed to 

obtain NOAECs for the most 

sensitive endpoints for carrot, 

cucumber, and onion. Also, the 

IC25 for onion dry weight (most 

sensitive endpoint) was below 

the lowest tested concentration. 

850.4100 49639102 Martin J.A. Atrazine SC (A8566A) 

– Seedling Emergence Test with 

Extended Exposure to View 

Potential Recovery. Unpublished 

study performed by Smithers 

Viscient, Wareham, 

Massachusetts and sponsored by 

Syngenta crop Protection, LLC, 

Greensboro, North Carolina. 

Laboratory Study Number: 

1781.7000.

Acceptable 
3 

Guideline MRID Study Title EPA Study 

Classification Comments 

Nonguideline na Andrus, J.M., D. Winter, M. 

Scanlan, S. Sullivan, W. Bollman, 

J.B. Waggoner, A.J. Hosmer, R.A. 

Brain. 2013. Seasonal 

synchronicity of algal 

assemblages in three 

Midwestern agricultural streams 

having varying concentrations of 

atrazine, nutrients and sediment. 

Science of the Total Environment 

458-460: 125-139. 

Supplemental The primary limitation in this 

study is the lack of a set of 

reference streams which have 

had limited or no atrazine 

exposure.

Nonguideline na Andrus, J.M., D. Winter, M. 

Scanlan, S. Sullivan, W. Bollman, 

J.B. Waggoner, A.J. Hosmer, R.A. 

Brain. 2015. Spatial and temporal 

variation of algal assemblages in 

six Midwest agricultural streams 

having varying levels of atrazine 

and other physiochemical 

attributes. Science of the Total 

Environment 505: 65-89. 

Supplemental The primary limitation in this 

study is the lack of a set of 

reference streams which have 

had limited or no atrazine 

exposure.

Nonguideline na Baxter, L.R., D.L. Moor, P.K. 

Sibley, K.R. Solomon, M.L. 

Hanson. 2011. Atrazine does not 

affect algal biomass or snail 

populations in microcosm 

communities at environmentally 

relevant concentrations. 

Environmental toxicology and 

chemistry, vol. 30 (7): 1689-1696. 

Supplemental Reviewed for inclusion in the 

CELOC calculation

Nonguideline na Baxter, L.R., P.K. Sibley, K.R. 

Solomon, and M.L. Hanson. 

2013. Interactions between 

atrazine and phosphorus in 

aquatic systems: Effects on 

phytoplankton and periphyton. 

Chemosphere 90: 1069-1076. 

Supplemental The primary limitation in this 

study is the lack of a set of 

comparable negative controls, 

and the poor reporting of the 

central cosms tested in the 

study. Therefore, it is difficult to 

isolate the independent effects

of either ATZ or phosphorous. In 

addition, the study doesn’t 

include saturated soil substrate 

as this would influence the 

amount of free phosphorous in 

the system. 
4 

Guideline MRID Study Title EPA Study 

Classification Comments 

Nonguideline 49535804 Hall, Jr., L.; Killen, W.; Brain, R.; 

et al. (2014) Atrazine: 

Assessment of Periphyton, 

Aquatic Macrophytes, Benthic 

Communities, and Physical 

Habitat in Midwestern United 

States Streams Coinciding with 

Varying Historical Concentrations 

of Atrazine. Journal of 

Environmental Science and 

Health Part A 49(2014):1091-

1099. 

Supplemental The primary limitation in this 

study is the lack of a set of 

reference streams which have 

had limited or no atrazine 

exposure.

Nonguideline na Pannard, A., B. Le Rouzic, F. 

Binet. 2009. Response of 

phytoplankton community to 

low-dose atrazine exposure 

combined with phosphorous 

fluctuations. Arch. Environ. 

Contam. Toxicol 57: 50-59. 

Supplemental Reviewed for inclusion in the 

CELOC calculation

Nonguideline 49639107: Prosser, R.; Andrus, J.; Solomon, 

K.; et al. (2015) Assessing 

Temporal and Spatial Variation in 

Sensitivity of Communities of 

Periphyton Sampled from 

Agroecosystem to, and Ability to 

Recover from, Atrazine Exposure. 

Ecotoxicology and Environmental 

Safety 118. 204-216. 

Supplemental While the study provides an 

investigation and discussion of 

atrazine effects on periphyton 

communities, it did not identify 

more sensitive endpoints than 

those already included in the 

2016 Refined Ecological Risk 

Assessment, and did not 

contribute information that 

would change the conclusions of 

the 2016 assessment. 

Nonguideline 49535803 Baxter, L.; Brain, R.; RodriguezGil, J.; et al. (2014) Atrazine: 

Response of the Green Alga 

Oophila sp., a Salamander 

Endosymbiont, to a PSII-Inhibitor 

under Laboratory Conditions. 

Environmental Toxicology and 

Chemistry 33(8):1858-1864. 

Cited These studies, while relevant to 

the potential effects due to 

atrazine environmental 

exposures and prior study 

identification as a potential risk 

concern (Oliver et al. 2010), do 

not test the effect of atrazine on 

the salamander eggs or algal 

symbiont while in the symbiotic 

relationship.
5 

Guideline MRID Study Title EPA Study 

Classification Comments 

Nonguideline 49639109 Hanson, M.; Rodriquez-Gil, J.; 

Baxter, L.; et al. (2014) Isolation, 

Identification, and Optimization 

of Culturing Conditions of the 

Alga Oophila sp., a Salamander 

Symbiont, for its Use in Toxicity 

Testing under Laboratory 

Conditions: Final Report. Project 

Number: ATZ2013B, TK0186283. 

Unpublished study prepared by 

University of Guelph. 30p. 

Cited 

Nonguideline 49639104 Hanson, M.; Baxter, L.; Solomon, 

K. (2015) The Response of the 

Salamander Ambystoma 

maculatum and its Egg-Capsule 

Endosymbiont (the alga Oophila 

sp.) to the Photosystem II 

Inhibitor Atrazine Under 

Laboratory Conditions: Final 

Report. Project Number: 

ATZ2014, TK0224041. 

Unpublished study prepared by 

University of Guelph. 103pp 

Cited 

Nonguideline 49639110 Hanson, M.; Baxter, L.; 

Rodriquez-Gil, J.; et al. (2014) 

Characterization of the Response 

of the Alga Oophila sp., a 

Salamander Symbiont, to 

Atrazine Under Laboratory 

Conditions: Final Report. Project 

Number: ATZ2013A, TK0186283. 

Unpublished study prepared by 

University of Guelph. 52p. 

Cited 

Nonguideline 49535801 Rodriguez-Gil, J.; Baxter, L.; 

McConkey, B.; et al. (2014) 

Atrazine: Optimization of 

Culturing Conditions for Toxicity 

Testing with the Alga Oophila sp. 

(Chlorophyceae), An Amphibian 

Endosymbiont. Environmental 

Toxicology and Chemistry 

33(11):2566-2575. 

Cited 
6 

Guideline MRID Study Title EPA Study 

Classification Comments 

Nonguideline 49639108 Kraak, G. (2014) The Effects of 

Atrazine on the Cortisol Stress 

Response in the Zebrafish (Danio 

rerio): Final Report. Project 

Number: TK0122394. 

Unpublished study prepared by 

University of Guelph. 20p

Cited A brief review of the study 

results indicate that the direct 

effects on the cortisol stress 

response do not result in more 

sensitive endpoints for fish 

following chronic exposure to 

atrazine, and thus would not 

contribute new data for 

refinement of current chronic 

fish conclusions in the risk 

assessment. 

850.2300 42547101 Pederson, et al. 1992. Atrazine 

Technical: Toxicity and 

Reproduction Study in

Mallard Ducks. Conducted by 

Bio-Life Associates, Ltd., 

Neillsville, WI. Laboratory Project 

ID No. BLAL No. 102-013-08. 

Acceptable 

890.1350 49694001 Schneider SC, Zhang L, Martin 

KH, Gallagher SP. 2015. AtrazineFish Short-Term Reproduction 

Assay with the Japanese Medaka 

(Oryzias latipes). Unpublished 

study performed by Wildlife 

International, Easton, Maryland. 

Laboratory report number 528A275. Study sponsored by 

Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC, 

Greensboro, North Carolina. 

Study completed July 31, 2015. 

Supplemental Deviations from the guideline 

are noted in Section IIA 8.1 of 

this data evaluation record 

(DER). Except for the deviation 

in test species and a few 

instances of pre-study fecundity 

not meeting guideline 

recommendations, the validity 

elements and performance 

criteria specified in §890.1350 

were met (i.e., control survival 

and reproduction). 

Nonguideline NA Papoulias, D. M., Tillitt, D. E., 

Talykina, M. G., Whyte, J. J., and 

Richter, C. A. (2014). Atrazine 

reduces reproduction in 

Japanese medaka (Oryzias 

latipes). Aquat Toxicol. 154:230-

239. 

Supplemental EPA analyzed the data following 

the methods detailed in the 

recently finalized 890.2200 

Medaka Extended One 

Generation Reproduction Test 

(MEOGRT) EPA guideline. 

Nonguideline NA Herlinde Noppe, An Ghekiere, 

Tim Verslycke, Eric De Wulf, 

Karolien Verheyden, Els 

Monteyne, Karen Polfliet, Peter 

van Caeter, Colin R. Janssen and 

Hubert F. De Brabander. 2007. 

Distribution and ecotoxicity of 

chlorotriazines in the Scheldt 

Estuary (B-Nl). Environmental 

Pollution 147 (2007) 668-676. 

Supplemental 
7 

Guideline MRID Study Title EPA Study 

Classification Comments 

Nonguideline NA Dornelles MF;Oliveira GT. 2014. 

Effect of Atrazine, Glyphosate 

and Quinclorac on Biochemical 

Parameters, Lipid Peroxidation 

and Survival in Bullfrog Tadpoles 

(Lithobates catesbeianus).Arch. 

Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 66(3): 

415-429 

Supplemental 

Nonguideline NA Brodeur JC;Sassone A;Hermida 

GN; Codugnello N. 2013. 

Environmentally-Relevant 

Concentrations of Atrazine 

Induce Non-Monotonic 

Acceleration of Developmental 

Rate and Increased Size at 

Metamorphosis in Rhinella 

arenarum Tadpoles. 2013. 

Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 92: 10-

17. 

Supplemental 

Nonguideline NA McMahon TA;Romansic JM;Rohr 

JR. 2013. Nonmonotonic and 

Monotonic Effects of Pesticides 

on the Pathogenic Fungus 

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis 

in Culture and on 

Tadpoles.Environ. Sci. Technol. 

47(14): 7958-7964 

Supplemental 

Nonguideline NA Paetow LJ;McLaughlin JD;Pauli 

BD;Marcogliese DJ. 2013. 

Mortality of American Bullfrog 

Tadpoles Lithobates 

catesbeianus Infected by 

Gyrodactylus jennyae and 

Experimentally Exposed to 

Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. 

J. Aquat. Anim. Health 25(1): 15-

26 

Supplemental 

Nonguideline NA Rohr JR, Raffel TR, Halstead NT, 

McMahon TA, Johnson SA, 

Boughton RK,Martin LB. 2013. 

Early-life exposure to a herbicide 

has enduring effects on pathogen 

has enduring effects on pathogen 

induced mortality. Proc R Soc B 

280 :20131502. 

Supplemental 

Nonguideline ECOTOX 

165358

Rohr JR;Palmer BD. 2013. Climate 

Change, Multiple Stressors, and 

the Decline of Ectotherms. 

Conserv. Biol. 27(4): 741-751 

Supplemental 
8 

Guideline MRID Study Title EPA Study 

Classification Comments 

Nonguideline NA Paetow LJ;McLaughlin JD;Cue 

RI;Pauli BD;Marcogliese DJ. 2012. 

Effects of Herbicides and the 

Chytrid Fungus Batrachochytrium 

dendrobatidis on the Health of 

Post-metamorphic Northern 

Leopard Frogs (Lithobates 

pipiens). Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 

80: 372-380 

Supplemental 

Nonguideline NA Svartz GV;Herkovits J;Perez-Coll 

CS. 2012. Sublethal Effects of 

Atrazine on Embryo-Larval 

Development of Rhinella 

arenarum (Anura: Bufonidae). 

Ecotoxicology 21(4): 1251-1259 

Supplemental