Simazine
Status: National drinking water standard exists
Simazine is a hormone-disrupting herbicide related to atrazine. It affects the male and female reproductive systems. In studies of laboratory animals, simazine increases blood levels of estrogen, decreases prolactin and progesterone, and causes mammary and ovarian tumors.
2015-2017:
29
states detected
686
utilities detected
18 million
people served
10
states over health guideline
134
utilities over health guideline
778,000
people served over health guideline
0
states over legal limit
0
utilities over legal limit
0
people served over legal limit
Health concerns for simazine
Harm to the developing fetus
Hormone disruption
Harm to the reproductive system
Changes in the nervous system
Changes in brain and behavior
Cancer
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 0.1 ppb
The EWG Health Guideline of 0.1 ppb for simazine was defined by EWG based on epidemiological studies of human exposure to atrazine in drinking water. This health guideline protects against harm to the developing fetus, harm to the reproductive system and hormone disruption.
EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 4 ppb
The legal limit for simazine, established in 1992, was based on toxicity studies in laboratory animals conducted in the 1980s. This limit does not fully protect against harm to the reproductive system, harm to the developing fetus, and hormone disruption.
ppb = parts per billion
States reporting simazine in drinking water
| UTILITIES REPORTING ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES | UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | Utilities | People Served | |||
| Texas | 39 | 380,511 | 268 | 8,009,635 | |||
| Ohio | 2 | 68,095 | 99 | 2,609,156 | |||
| Maryland | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2,015,220 | |||
| Indiana | 2 | 14,902 | 28 | 1,062,218 | |||
| Arizona | 0 | 0 | 7 | 681,305 | |||
| District Of Columbia | 0 | 0 | 3 | 648,882 | |||
| Virginia | 0 | 0 | 2 | 501,202 | |||
| Missouri | 0 | 0 | 20 | 446,210 | |||
| Kentucky | 4 | 22,266 | 32 | 366,365 | |||
| North Carolina | 1 | 25 | 50 | 326,744 | |||
| Louisiana | 0 | 0 | 4 | 276,832 | |||
| Illinois | 81 | 213,706 | 99 | 242,508 | |||
| Florida | 0 | 0 | 7 | 157,093 | |||
| Delaware | 0 | 0 | 1 | 107,976 | |||
| Rhode Island | 0 | 0 | 4 | 67,053 | |||
| Iowa | 2 | 7,502 | 27 | 58,839 | |||
| New York | 1 | 58,000 | 1 | 58,000 | |||
| Tennessee | 1 | 5,422 | 4 | 51,924 | |||
| Massachusetts | 0 | 0 | 3 | 41,948 | |||
| Alabama | 1 | 7,161 | 2 | 39,270 | |||
| Michigan | 0 | 0 | 1 | 33,816 | |||
| Oregon | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15,865 | |||
| Nevada | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5,700 | |||
| Pennsylvania | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2,720 | |||
| South Carolina | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2,256 | |||
| Minnesota | 0 | 0 | 1 | 941 | |||
| Hawaii | 0 | 0 | 1 | 707 | |||
| Washington | 0 | 0 | 1 | 300 | |||
| New Hampshire | 0 | 0 | 1 | 233 | |||
| New Mexico | 0 | 0 | 1 | 120 | |||
Filtering technologies that reduce simazine
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of simazine, 2015-2017
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schram City | Hillsboro, IL | 6 of 13 | 0.510 ppb | 700 |
| Hillsboro* | Hillsboro, IL | 6 of 13 | 0.510 ppb | 5,600 |
| Taylor Springs | Taylor Springs, IL | 6 of 13 | 0.510 ppb | 600 |
| Coffeen | Coffeen, IL | 6 of 13 | 0.510 ppb | 709 |
| Salem* | Salem, IL | 2 of 11 | 0.442 ppb | 9,000 |
| Jericho Water District | Syosset, NY | 35 of 74 | 0.396 ppb | 58,000 |
| Kinmundy | Kinmundy, IL | 2 of 5 | 0.376 ppb | 940 |
| Pecan Grove MUD* | Houston, TX | 4 of 20 | 0.338 ppb | 14,913 |
| Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District 134d | Houston, TX | 4 of 20 | 0.338 ppb | 105 |
| Tritownship Water District* | Highland, IL | 6 of 14 | 0.289 ppb | 3,620 |
| Trenton | Trenton, IL | 6 of 14 | 0.289 ppb | 2,832 |
| Fayetteville | Fayetteville, IL | 6 of 14 | 0.289 ppb | 455 |
| New Baden* | New Baden, IL | 6 of 14 | 0.289 ppb | 3,552 |
| Summerfield | Summerfield, IL | 6 of 14 | 0.289 ppb | 500 |
| S L M Water Commission* | Mascoutah, IL | 6 of 14 | 0.289 ppb | 300 |
| Lebanon | Lebanon, IL | 6 of 14 | 0.289 ppb | 4,541 |
| Fsh Water Commission* | Freeburg, IL | 6 of 14 | 0.289 ppb | 300 |
| New Memphis Public Water District | New Memphis, IL | 6 of 14 | 0.289 ppb | 938 |
| Mascoutah | Mascoutah, IL | 6 of 14 | 0.289 ppb | 7,110 |
| White City | Mount Olive, IL | 4 of 12 | 0.240 ppb | 350 |
| Staunton Residential Road Water Co-op | Staunton, IL | 4 of 12 | 0.240 ppb | 40 |
| Mount Olive* | Mount Olive, IL | 4 of 12 | 0.240 ppb | 2,150 |
| Carlinville* | Carlinville, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.213 ppb | 5,685 |
| Lake Williamson Christian Center | Carlinville, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.213 ppb | 1,250 |
| Evansville | Evansville, IL | 2 of 12 | 0.213 ppb | 740 |
| Patoka | Patoka, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.211 ppb | 731 |
| Fmc Water Company* | Odin, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.211 ppb | 2,802 |
| Farina | Farina, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.211 ppb | 600 |
| Gateway Regional Water Company* | Kinmundy, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.211 ppb | 1 |
| Vernon | Vernon, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.211 ppb | 176 |
| Xenia | Xenia, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.211 ppb | 614 |
| Flora* | Flora, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.211 ppb | 5,675 |
| Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District 58 | Houston, TX | 1 of 1 | 0.210 ppb | 4,488 |
| Sandoval | Sandoval, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.200 ppb | 1,760 |
| Centralia* | Centralia, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.200 ppb | 14,274 |
| Pinwah Pines Estates | Pflugerville, TX | 1 of 1 | 0.200 ppb | 130 |
| Wamac | Centralia, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.200 ppb | 1,501 |
| Walnut Hill* | Walnut Hill, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.200 ppb | 1,566 |
| Junction City | Junction City, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.200 ppb | 783 |
| W G Murray Development Center | Centralia, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.200 ppb | 331 |
| Hoffman | Hoffman, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.200 ppb | 525 |
| Hoyleton Rwc | Hoyleton, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.200 ppb | 1,147 |
| Irvington* | Irvington, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.200 ppb | 1,245 |
| City of Grapevine | Grapevine, TX | 2 of 3 | 0.197 ppb | 47,851 |
| Decatur County Water Corporation | Greensburg, IN | 5 of 12 | 0.187 ppb | 2,902 |
| Greensburg Municipal Water Works* | Greensburg, IN | 5 of 12 | 0.187 ppb | 12,000 |
| Mattoon* | Mattoon, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.176 ppb | 19,000 |
| Humboldt | Humboldt, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.176 ppb | 500 |
| Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District 133 | Houston, TX | 1 of 1 | 0.170 ppb | 2,757 |
| Breese* | Breese, IL | 4 of 12 | 0.164 ppb | 4,192 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Simazine, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jericho Water District | Syosset, NY | 35 of 74 | 0.396 ppb | 58,000 |
| Pecan Grove MUD* | Houston, TX | 4 of 20 | 0.338 ppb | 14,913 |
| Centralia* | Centralia, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.200 ppb | 14,274 |
| City of Grapevine | Grapevine, TX | 2 of 3 | 0.197 ppb | 47,851 |
| Greensburg Municipal Water Works* | Greensburg, IN | 5 of 12 | 0.187 ppb | 12,000 |
| Mattoon* | Mattoon, IL | 3 of 12 | 0.176 ppb | 19,000 |
| City of Sugar Land* | Sugar Land, TX | 8 of 17 | 0.161 ppb | 83,886 |
| Effingham* | Effingham, IL | 2 of 10 | 0.141 ppb | 12,384 |
| Piqua City PWS | Piqua, OH | 6 of 18 | 0.139 ppb | 20,522 |
| Newark City PWS | Newark, OH | 2 of 17 | 0.128 ppb | 47,573 |
| City of South Houston | South Houston, TX | 13 of 18 | 0.124 ppb | 13,578 |
| City of Livingston | Livingston, TX | 2 of 3 | 0.123 ppb | 11,476 |
| University Park | Dallas, TX | 2 of 3 | 0.123 ppb | 24,396 |
| Murphysboro* | Murphysboro, IL | 9 of 13 | 0.119 ppb | 11,915 |
| Harris County WCID 36 | Houston, TX | 4 of 7 | 0.117 ppb | 11,065 |
| City of Texas City | Texas City, TX | 6 of 12 | 0.114 ppb | 48,558 |
| Harris County FWSD 51* | Houston, TX | 5 of 6 | 0.108 ppb | 10,401 |
| Del-Co Water Company Inc.* | Delaware, OH | 17 of 22 | 0.0959 ppb | 141,407 |
| Speedway Water Works | Speedway, IN | 2 of 9 | 0.0944 ppb | 11,812 |
| Bexley City PWS | Bexley, OH | 10 of 19 | 0.0942 ppb | 13,650 |
| Reynoldsburg City PWS | Reynoldsburg, OH | 10 of 19 | 0.0942 ppb | 35,893 |
| Gahanna City PWS | Gahanna, OH | 10 of 19 | 0.0942 ppb | 33,323 |
| Columbus Public Water System* | Columbus, OH | 10 of 19 | 0.0942 ppb | 1,159,817 |
| Johnston County - West* | Wilson Mills, NC | 3 of 7 | 0.0941 ppb | 45,750 |
| Clayton | Clayton, NC | 3 of 7 | 0.0941 ppb | 14,030 |
| Walpole Water Department | Walpole, MA | 7 of 11 | 0.0918 ppb | 23,997 |
| Lafourche Water District 1 | Lockport, LA | 2 of 24 | 0.0917 ppb | 78,760 |
| City of Monroe | Monroe, NC | 4 of 12 | 0.0868 ppb | 30,135 |
| Bedford City Utilities* | Bedford, IN | 3 of 12 | 0.0850 ppb | 14,000 |
| City of Midlothian* | Midlothian, TX | 4 of 9 | 0.0811 ppb | 16,728 |
| City of La Marque | La Marque, TX | 1 of 3 | 0.0800 ppb | 15,154 |
| City of Galveston* | Galveston, TX | 1 of 3 | 0.0800 ppb | 50,180 |
| Johnston County - East* | Wilson Mills, NC | 5 of 10 | 0.0766 ppb | 24,310 |
| Town of Smithfield* | Smithfield, NC | 3 of 8 | 0.0701 ppb | 11,684 |
| City of Galena Park | Galena Park, TX | 4 of 6 | 0.0700 ppb | 10,089 |
| City of Bellaire | Bellaire, TX | 4 of 7 | 0.0686 ppb | 22,473 |
| Rathbun Regional Water Assn* | Centerville, IA | 2 of 3 | 0.0667 ppb | 28,215 |
| Remington MUD 1 | Houston, TX | 3 of 8 | 0.0663 ppb | 13,338 |
| Fremont City | Fremont, OH | 9 of 12 | 0.0658 ppb | 16,677 |
| Newport Municipal Utility District | Houston, TX | 2 of 6 | 0.0650 ppb | 10,374 |
| City of Waxahachie* | Waxahachie, TX | 2 of 6 | 0.0650 ppb | 36,422 |
| Harris County MUD 53 | Houston, TX | 8 of 15 | 0.0640 ppb | 16,164 |
| City of Thomasville | Thomasville, NC | 2 of 5 | 0.0628 ppb | 26,418 |
| Galveston County WCID 1 | Dickinson, TX | 5 of 9 | 0.0622 ppb | 29,280 |
| Stucker Fork Water Utility* | Scottsburg, IN | 3 of 12 | 0.0592 ppb | 18,873 |
| City of Grand Prairie* | Grand Prairie, TX | 3 of 21 | 0.0576 ppb | 187,050 |
| City of La Porte | La Porte, TX | 12 of 24 | 0.0567 ppb | 34,733 |
| Clear Lake City Water Authority* | Houston, TX | 4 of 12 | 0.0550 ppb | 85,636 |
| City of Baytown* | Baytown, TX | 2 of 3 | 0.0533 ppb | 72,312 |
| Harris County MUD 102 | Houston, TX | 2 of 4 | 0.0500 ppb | 10,212 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Simazine, but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.