Analytical Confirmation of Various Herbicides in Drinking Water Resources in Sugarcane Production Regions of Guangxi, China.

Abstract

This work investigated drinking water contamination by 11 commonly used herbicides in sugarcane production areas in Guangxi, China. The work developed an analytical method for determination of these herbicides in environmental waters. This work studied herbicide residues in drinking water in Guangxi, China. The maximum residues and percent of detects were: (0.091µg/L, 29.2%, atrazine), (0.018µg/L, 8.3%, ametryne), (0.188µg/L, 8.3%, aetolaehlor), (0.139µg/L, 4%, simazine), (0.585µg/L, 62.5%, atrazine), (0.311µg/L, 33.3%, acetochlor), (0.341µg/L, 58.3%, ametryne), (1.312µg/L, 29.2%, metolachlor), (0.088µg/L, 4.2%, alachlor), (0.127µg/L, 14.3%, atrazine), and (0.453µg/L, 7.1%, metolachlor), respectively. The results demonstrated that agricultural herbicides were detected in all water samples, including tap, surface and groundwater samples. Since the residues are generally below the safe limits established by the government authorities, the monitored 11 herbicides do not significantly affect the quality of the human environment. This work will provide scientific understanding of pesticide residues in drinking water standards in terms of its consistency with precautionary human health and environmental safety.