Assessment of atrazine contamination in the Sele River estuary: spatial distribution, human health risks, and ecological implications in Southern Europe

Abstract Background Overuse of pesticides is a major worldwide problem for the environment and human health. Atrazine (ATR) is a synthetic triazine herbicide that is typically used to manage crops and although it was banned many years ago, it was detected frequently with a high persistence in the aquatic environments. This study assesses the human and environment health risks, temporal patterns and spatial distribution of ATR and its degradation products (DPs) in the Sele River estuary within the Southern European context.. It specifically investigates their occurrence in the water dissolved phase (WDP), suspended particulate matter (SPM), and sediment. Results Sampling was conducted across 10 sites throughout the year’s four seasons. Amounts of ATR and its DPs detected ranged from 20.1 to 96.5 ng L−1 in WDP, from 5.4 to 60.2 ng L−1 in SPM, and from 4.7 to 19.8 ng g−1 in sediment samples, signifying some pollution levels. Spatial distribution mechanisms revealed a southward movement of ATR and its DPs pollution from the Sele River mouth, intensifying during the rainy season. In this study area, a risk evaluation was also carried out. No sample contained ATR or its DPs in concentrations above the recommended limits, which pose a Non-carcinogenic and Carcinogenic risk. The environmental risk was low. Additionally, the determined Incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) value was within the allowable range. Conclusion Despite its long-standing prohibition, this study investigate ATR levels in the water and sediments of Sele River in Southern Europe. Beyond simply delineating the pollution status of Sele River, this research delineates its ecological repercussions on the Thyrrenian Sea, providing essential data for norms and laws related to water contamination. Graphical Abstract