bentazon water filter contaminant drinking tap water

Bentazon (also known as bentazone) is an herbicide used on corn, cereal, pea, mint, rice, soy and succulent lima bean crops. It is mobile in soil (especially in areas with high rainfall levels), degrades slowly in the environment, and has been reported in surface, ground and drinking water.

Trade Names: Basagran, Bendioxide, Bentazone, Bas 351-H, Leader, Pledge. All products currently marketed in the U.S. contain the sodium salt of bentazon as the active ingredient, referred to as sodium bentazon 

Health Effects of Bentazon

Bentazon is classified by the World Health Organization as being “slightly hazardous,” and quickly metabolizes into less hazardous substances when ingested. In animal studies, it has been shown to affect blood clotting and cause changes in the heart, liver, kidneys and prostate. Symptoms of exposure in animals include weight loss and gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea and vomiting.

In 2012, the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) evaluated bentazone (WHO,2013). Bentazone has moderate acute toxicity when administered orally to rats, guinea-pigs and rabbits. Repeated-dose toxicity studies (subchronic and chronic) in mice, rats and dogs indicate that
effects on haematology and blood coagulation (e.g. prolongation of prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time) are consistently observed. Bentazone is not carcinogenic in rats or mice and showed no evidence of genotoxicity in a range of in vitro and in vivo assays. No reproductive effects
were observed at the highest dose tested in a two-generation reproductive toxicity study in rats, and bentazone was not teratogenic in rats or rabbits.

Epic Water Filters has tested the following products for the removal of Bentazon:
Epic Pure Water Filter Pitcher: >99.7%
Epic Nano Water Filter Pitcher: >99.7%
Epic Outdoor Adventure Water Bottle Filter: >99.7%