Its major use is on corn where it is often combined with AAtrex. The amount of simazine used annually in the USA was estimated in 1985 to be 4.8 billion pounds. Release Patterns Simazine may be released into the environment via effluents at manufacturing sites and at points of application where it is employed as a herbicide. Since simazine is not a listed chemical in the Toxics Release Inventory, data on releases during its manufacture and handling are not available. Environmental Fate If released to water, simazine is not expected to adsorb to sediment and suspended particulate matter, or to volatilize.
Persistence depends upon many factors including degree of algae and weed infestation.
Simazine residues may persist up to 3 years in soil under aquatic field conditions. Dissipation of simazine in pond and lake water was variable, with half-lives ranging from 50 to 700 days. Slow biodegradation of simazine may occur in water based upon the slow biodegradation observed in soil. Simazine is fairly resistant to hydrolysis. Simazine can be utilized by certain soil microorganisms as a source of energy and mineralization.