D34-Lancaster Fanning Saturday, August 11,1990 Most ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The vast majority of rural, domestic wells in agricultural areas are free of contamination from several com monly used herbicides, according to the largest study of its kind ever completed. Approximately 87 percent of the estimated 6 million wells in the survey area are expected to be completely free of any detectable levels of the five herbicides stud ied. Where herbicides are detected, the typical trace levels found are well below the health based standard set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). More than 99 percent of all wells are projected to show no herbicide levels exceeding the EPA standard for drinking water quality. “Survey results are particularly encouraging with regard to drink ing water quality. It found, for example, that the frequency and levels of occurrence in rural, domestic wells of all herbicides studied are extremely low,” said Robert L. Harness, vice president of environmental and public affairs for Monsanto Agricultural Company. The study, called the National Alachlor Well Water Survey, looked at nearly 1,430 wells in 26 states. It was designed by Mon santo Agricultural Company and Research Triangle Institute (RTI), with active participation by and approval of EPA. RTI is a non profit, independent research orga nization located in Research Triangle Park, NC. As part of the re-registration standard for alachlor, the EPA required Monsanto to obtain better estimates of alachlor occurrence in rural wells in counties where the product is used, said Harness. “In addition to alachlor, a com and soybean herbicide manufac tured and marketed by Monsanto under various brand names, the survey tested for four other herbi cides: atrazine, metolachlor, cya nazine, and simazine. Water sam ples also were tested for nitrate levels,” Harness said. Among the 6 million wells, which serve approximately 20 million people in the survey area, each well had a chance of being randomly selected for testing. The survey, which required two years to complete at a cost of more than HARDY J “Outside” Wood Furnace Jr, Easily f~*" ' " Perfect For Connects • New Homes TO :SSSCK£ Forced Air/ • Greenhouse • Barn Hot Water j • Milkhouse • Office * " • Business Places SyStCHIS I SAVES MONEY Heats your home i 13 and domestic hot water (save to 25% of \ - : —, electric bill). No need for building or \ chimney. V. M JJ3 SAFE Furnace sits outside v i" ■ 1 eliminates fire danger and flue fire forever. All Stainless Steel CLEAN No smoke, wood, ashes, Ironed* dust in the home. Controlled CONVENIENT Load furnace every 10-12 hours burns logs up to 16" In diameter, 30” in length. ATTENTION Save $5O 00 to $lOO.OO on FAPIWVDC heating and hot water costs * at barn and milkhouse. For More c| V d , e K - Alderfer '"“"vice 8 " Bo^e-aa'Jf U. Approved " 3i5S Wells Not $4 million, has been submitted to the EPA for its review. Based on survey data, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of all wells are projected to have herbicide occurrence in excess of EPA’s proposed maximum contaminant level (MCL) or health advisory level for that product. These health-based levels reflect lifetime consumption and provide for a significant margin of safety. Concentration of all five herbi cides were measured by a sophis ticated analytical technique cap able of detecting herbicide levels as low as 2 parts per 100 billion. This level of detection is equiva lent to isolating 1 second in 1,600 years. “Survey findings reconfirm the fact that alachlor is seldom found ♦ Millwork ♦ Trusses ♦ Owens Coming Roofing ♦ Design and Plan Services ♦ Anderson Windows ♦ Paneling & Ceiling Material ♦ Wheeling Channel Drain ♦ Cedar Siding SERVING THE AREAS BUILDING NEEDS SINCE 1872 WE DELIVER From All Locations Contaminated, Survey Says in drinking water. More than 99 percent of rural wells are expected to be completely free of detectable levels of alachlor. Only an esti mated 0.02 percent of wells are expected to be above the proposed MCL of 2 parts per billion (ppb),” Harness said. If drinking water consistently contained alachlor at the 2 ppb level, a 130-pound person would have to drink 20,000 gallons of water every day for 70 years to reach the lowest amount which caused a toxic effect in some laboratory animals, he noted. The survey found, as have other studies, that nitrate occurrence is common in rural, domestic wells, with 52 percent of wells in the survey area expected to have detectable levels of nitrates. A 'Jk JXJ Let Your Dreams Come True At. . . WWALTER &JACKSON, INC. RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • AGRICULTURAL Its.-. .1 88 f , , -A,' ■f E. GAY ST., CHRISTIANA, PA 17509 215-593-6195 / 857-2613 18 N. HESS ST., QUARRYVILLE 717-786-2171 FARMERSVILLE RD., HINKLETOWN, JPA 717-354-4911 PLANT FOOD COMPANY, INC. QUALITY LIQUID FERTILIZER 9-18-9. 6-24-6, 16-4-4. 5-15-15+. 3-18-18, 10-20-10. 10-10-10, 0-15-20, plus others on request. OUR CUSTOMERS BUY OUR PRODUCTS BECAUSE OF - Ease of Handling • Convenience • Easy Storage Soil Reports • Tank Program • Dellveiy • More Analyses to Choose From Your friends at Hi-Score thank you for supporting us over many years and ask for your continued support. Our plans are to keep bringing you new and better products and honest service. We invite you to visit us at Ag Progress Days, Hi-Score Plant Food Co., Inc 3175 Oregon Pike p.O. Box 7775 Lancaster, PA 17604 Tele: 717-656-4191 majority of these, however, have levels less than 3 parts per million (ppm), which is generally regarded as a naturally occurring nitrate level present in some water supplies. About S percent of wells are projected to exceed the MCL of 10 ppm. In addition to occurring natural ly in the water supply, nitrates can enter ground water through nitro gen fertilizers, livestock wastes, and other agricultural or non agricultural sources. “An important conclusion to be drawn from this survey is that the herbicides studied are not threatening rural well-water sup plies. At the same time, we under stand when people are concerned by any detectable levels of herbi cides in water sources,” said Located On West sth Street Harness. “All water supplies contain trace levels of various substances -- both natural and synthetic. Detection of these substances, however, doesn’t necessarily mean there is a cause for alarm or concern. Frequently it reflects an advancement in our scientific abil ity to detect a substance we could not find before. With that ability to detect increasingly smaller con centrations of a substance goes a responsibility for ensuring that these trace levels don’t represent an unreasonable risk to human health or the environment,” Reporting, verification, and administrative procedures are now being finalized. Complete prog ram details will be announced in the near future, he said. ♦ Lumber ♦ Pole Bams ♦ Insulations ♦ Stanley Doors ♦ Glen Gery Brick ♦ Treated Yellow Pine ♦ Aristockrat Kitchens ♦ Aluminum & Vinyl Siding ♦ Metered Concrete Mon.-Fri. 6:30-5 p.m. Sat. 6:30-Noon
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