Cyanazine

Cyanazine is a pesticide that was mainly used on corn and other vegetable crops in the midwestern United States. Cyanazine (formerly marketed under the name Bladex) was banned in 2002. Cyanazine is persistent in water and along with its breakdown products called “Total Cyanazine”, have been detected in surface and groundwater in the midwestern United States, including private wells for drinking water adjacent to farmland.  

Health Impact of Cyanazine

Cyanazine is slightly toxic with minimal exposure, causing eye and skin irritation. Long term exposure to Cyanazine has shown changes in eating and the liver. It has caused birth defects in animals exposed to large amounts.

According to a report from the non-profit Environmental Working Group, it is “Cyanazine is essentially atrazine with cyanide attached to it.” If you know anything about atrazine, atrazine has been listed as a possible human carcinogen, having caused tumors in rats.

How Do I Remove Cyanazine From My Water?

The World Health Organization has said that cyanazine may be treated with a granular activated carbon (GAC) water filter. If this is the case, then running your water through solid carbon filter like the Epic Smart Shield will treat it much better. As you know, Solid Carbon blocks have more contaminant removal that GAC filters. (See Carbon Block vs GAC Filter). At this time we have not tested specifically for the removal of Cyanazine and make no claims specific to this water contaminant but we have tested for the most common pesticides and herbicides on the market. See all of our independent product testing and 3rd party certifications here.