ENVIRONMENTAL AND HEALTH EFFECTS OF MSMA APPLICATION ALONG LOUISIANA HIGHWAYS. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The use of MSMA as a grass control herbicide along Louisiana highway's rights-of-way is desirable because of its economic advantage in chemical mowing and Johnson grass control. Since MSMA contains arsenic, there has been some public concern over MSMA's possible adverse environmental and health effects due to the buildup of arsenic residues in soil, water and biota. The objective of this project was to obtain baseline arsenic residue data along the highway rights-of-way of five selected highways in Louisiana: LA 7/and US 171/Calcasieu Parish. In summary, 432 or 77.3% of all surface-soil samples collected contained from 0 to 50ppm of arsenic-residues while 127 or 22.7% contained over 50ppm. Most, 14 of 18, water samples contained arsenic residues below 50ppb which is the EPA Primary Drinking Water Standards. The background (baseline) arsenic-residue concentrations in in surface soil samples ranged from 3.72ppm to 13.9ppm of arsenic. The environmental and health risks due to the accumulation of arsenic residues in soil and water appear to be minimal. It was recommended that DOTD continue this monitoring program to maintain a current assessment of the environmental and health risks of MSMA application. (Author)
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Corporate Authors:
Enviro-Med Laboratories, Incorporated
1874 Dallas Drive
Baton Rouge, LA United States 70806Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
Research and Development Section, P.O. Box 94245 Capitol Station
Baton Rouge, LA United States 70804-9425Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC United States 20590 -
Authors:
- Perry, D L
- Germany, R D
- Flournoy, R W
- Publication Date: 1984-6
Media Info
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 26 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Environmental impacts; Health; Herbicides; Waste products (Materials)
- Uncontrolled Terms: Right of way
- Old TRIS Terms: Arsenates
- Subject Areas: Design; Environment; Highways; Maintenance and Preservation; Planning and Forecasting; I21: Planning of Transport Infrastructure;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00394756
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA-LA-84-ISS(B) Final Rpt.
- Contract Numbers: LA to 84-1SS(B)
- Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
- Created Date: Oct 31 1988 12:00AM