Atrazine, the most commonly used herbicide in the U.S., has been deemed a “likely” carcinogen in a draft EPA report. The chemical kills weeds around corn, citrus fruits, and other crops, but it may also cause uterine, prostate, and breast cancer and disrupt reproductive development after it seeps into drinking water, EPA scientists say. The EPA hasn’t finished its report, and a decision on whether the use of atrazine should be restricted could take months or even years. Novartis, the biggest manufacturer of the chemical, denies that atrazine use carries big risks.
