Poison in bore water

Wednesday, May 19, 1993 - 10:00

Poison in bore water

By Stephen Robson

PERTH — Bore water in suburban Dianella has been found to be contaminated after lawns began dying. The WA Health Department and the Environmental Protection Authority have identified the herbicide atrazine and the pesticide fenamiphos.

Households have been told not to give the water to pets or to use it on gardens.

Atrazine is widely used by local government authorities in Western Australia to kill weeds. It has been classified by the World Health Organisation as a possible human cancer agent. Fenamiphos is highly toxic and can be absorbed through the skin.

From GLW issue 100