Both studies examined the effects of atrazine on sex differentiation.
Sex differentiation is temperature dependent in both species and easily manipulated in-vitro.
Therefore, the environmental relevance of these doses and especially the route of exposure is not indicated. Indeed, the utilization of ethanol as a vehicle might increase atrazine transport into the egg and therefore not replicate natural or ecosystem exposure. Although these results suggest endocrine-modulating effects of atrazine during embryonic development in freshwater turtles, ecosystem relevance is doubtful. In summary, atrazine exposures for alligators and turtles are difficult to evaluate in natural ecosystems. The primary critical developmental period of potential exposure to atrazine would be during egg developmental stages.