Pesticides contribute significantly to crop yields, but the impact of pesticides on the ecological environment can not be ignored. A new study by Washington State University in the United States found that atrazine, a popular herbicide in the United States, has a huge genetic impact on contaminated mammals. Rat experiments found that its adverse effects will be inherited, resulting in the second generation or even the third generation of rats more susceptible to a variety of diseases.

             Michael Skinner, a professor of biology at Washington State University, and colleagues found that pregnant rats were exposed to atrazine and their fertile rats (first generation) did not show other Adverse effects, but the offspring of the first generation of rats, will show a serious developmental abnormalities, not only the body is more thin, but also early onset of precocious puberty, suffering from testicular disease, breast cancer risk is also significantly increased. This anomaly will continue to the third generation.

             Researchers say they found methylation mutations in the offspring spermatozoa. At the same time they also confirmed some specific mutations, the discovery of these mutations help to improve the diagnosis of some susceptible diseases.

             The study was published in the journal Public Library. Skinner engaged in environmental epigenetics research for many years, his early study found that many environmental toxins, such as pesticides, fungicides, two formula British, mosquito, etc., will have long-term adverse effects on animals, through the apparent Genetics affects its next generation or even the next two generations.

             Atrazine is a class of endocrine disrupting compounds, which can cause a lot of attention due to males. The herbicide also causes water pollution and is therefore prohibited by the European Union, but has been approved by the State Environmental Protection Agency in the United States as a herbicide commonly used in the Midwest corn growing area.