Is atrazine a potent endocrine disruptor chemical? While I agree in principle with T. J. Collins in his Viewpoint “Persuasive Communication about Matters of Great Urgency: Endocrine Disruption” (Environ. Sci. Technol. 2008, 42 (20), 7555-7558; DOI 10.1021/ es800079k), these must be based on sound science. Society has responded to matters of great urgency in the case of ozone depletion and, more recently, to global climate change; however, these responses were supported by good science. This science was robust, replicated, based on multiple observations, and even recognized by the Nobel Committee. Sadly, this is not always the case, as illustrated in the example of atrazine and frogs, which Collins used as an illustration in the above article. Although numerous
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people have tried, the conclusion that “atrazine is a potent EDC” (endocrine disrupting chemical) is not supported by observations in laboratories other than that of T. Hayes. It is now time to recognize, as Nietzsche said, that this is the “twilight of the idols.” The results of many studies, in many laboratories and in several species of frogs and other vertebrates, have not suggested that atrazine is an EDC. Certainly not to the extent that concentrations in rainwater will “chemically castrate male frogs”svery evocativesbut unsubstantiated (1). To perpetuate opinions on atrazine on the advice of very few people (two “principal EDC teachers”) is inappropriate. To do this without further consulting the literature and weighing all the evidence in a sound scientific manner calls other opinions, such as those on bisphenol A (BPA), into
2009 American Chemical Society
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question, does a disservice to science in general, and discredits the laudable aims of green chemistry. After all, to benefit us and our planet, green chemistry needs also to be based on good science, not on factoids and selection of data, inadvertent or otherwise. KEITH R. SOLOMON* University of Guelph (Canada)
[email protected] (1) Solomon, K. R.; Carr, J. A.; Du Preez, L. H.; Kendall, R. J.; Smith, E. E.; Van Der Kraak, G. J. Effects of atrazine on fish, amphibians, and aquatic reptiles: A critical review. Crit. Rev. Toxicol. 2008, 38, 721–772. Environmental Science & Technology edits all Letters for length, punctuation, and clarification of references. Authors approve of changes prior to publication.
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May 1, 2009 / ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 9 2993
