Can atrazine herbicide residues on food harm your baby's brain across generations?

What's actually in it

Atrazine is one of the most widely used herbicides in U.S. corn and sorghum farming. Residues end up in drinking water, especially in agricultural regions, and on conventionally grown produce. Atrazine is an endocrine disruptor that can cross the placenta during pregnancy.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Ecotoxicol Environ Saf found that maternal atrazine exposure caused intergenerational neurotoxicity in offspring. The damage was mediated through changes in the mother's blood metabolites, which then affected the baby's developing brain. The study found altered brain structure and behavior in the offspring.

The word "intergenerational" is key: the mother's exposure changed her body chemistry in ways that harmed her children, even though the children weren't directly exposed to as much atrazine.

If you live in a farming area, test your water for atrazine and use a granular activated carbon filter. Choose organic corn and grain products. Wash all produce well.