- A recent study reveals that atrazine, a widely used herbicide in the U.S., may accelerate brain cell aging and increase the risk of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s by damaging neurons and prematurely aging stem cells in the hypothalamus.
- Atrazine is the second-most used herbicide globally, with over 70 million pounds applied annually in the U.S. It contaminates groundwater, drinking water and the environment.
- Mice exposed to atrazine showed reduced mature nerve cells, overactive brain immune cells, and signs of accelerated brain aging, including mitochondrial damage and lipofuscin buildup, which are markers of cellular aging.
- Atrazine has been linked to reproductive issues, birth defects, cancers and organ damage in previous studies. While the EPA has banned it in Hawaii and some territories, it continues to allow its use on the U.S. mainland and is considering increasing acceptable levels in watersheds.
- Researchers urge greater awareness of atrazine’s risks and its potential link to neurodegenerative diseases. Policymakers are encouraged to balance the economic benefits of atrazine against its significant health risks, as public health concerns grow.
A groundbreaking study published last month in Research reveals that atrazine, a widely used herbicide in the United States but banned in Europe, may be accelerating brain cell aging and increasing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Atrazine, a common weed killer, is the second-most used herbicide globally, with over 70 million pounds applied annually in the U.S. alone. Farmers rely on it to protect crops, and highway crews use it to clear weeds along roads. But this chemical doesn’t just stay in the fields – it seeps into groundwater, contaminates drinking water and lingers in the environment.
While the European Union banned atrazine in 2004 due to its pervasive presence in groundwater, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to allow its use, even considering a proposal to nearly triple the acceptable levels in watersheds.
The new study sheds light on how atrazine exposure harms the brain, specifically targeting the hypothalamus, a critical region responsible for regulating hormones, stress responses, metabolism and reproduction.
Researchers found that atrazine damages nerve cells (neurons) and triggers a stress response in the brain that prematurely ages stem cells, the body’s natural repair system. These aged stem cells lose their ability to divide, grow and repair damage, leaving the hypothalamus vulnerable to long-term harm.
Exposure to atrazine decreases number of mature nerve cells in the brain
Mice exposed to atrazine showed a significant decrease in the number of mature nerve cells in their brains. The chemical also activated microglia, the brain’s immune cells, which are meant to respond to injury or infection. But instead of healing, these cells became overactive, contributing to further damage. The researchers also observed signs of accelerated aging in the brain, including the buildup of lipofuscin, a pigment associated with aging cells, and the breakdown of mitochondria, the energy-producing structures within cells.
What's even more troubling is that this isn't the first time atrazine has raised red flags. Previous studies have linked it to reproductive complications, birth defects and certain cancers in humans, as well as liver, kidney and heart damage in animals. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has long warned about its potential health risks, yet its use remains widespread. (Related: Atrazine, a widely used herbicide in the U.S., has led to a shocking increase in birth defects.)
The EU decision to ban atrazine was based on its persistent presence in groundwater, where it exceeded safety limits. In the U.S., the EPA has taken limited action, banning atrazine in Hawaii and some territories but allowing its continued use on the mainland. The agency’s current proposal to increase acceptable levels of atrazine in watersheds seems to fly in the face of mounting scientific evidence.
Visit Pesticides.news for more on the harmful effects of different kinds of pesticides.
Watch this video discussing some of the harmful genetic mutations caused by exposure to atrazine.
This video is from the American Patriot 1776 channel on Brighteon.com.
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