Which of the following is a herbicide contaminant commonly detected in water?

• A. Glyphosate
• B. Lead
• C. Atrazine
• D. Microbes

Answer: (C)

Herbicide contamination in water often comes from agricultural runoff and leaching through soil into groundwater. Atrazine fits this scenario best because it has been widely used on row crops and is relatively soluble in water, allowing it to move from fields into surface waters and infiltrate groundwater. Because of its extensive use and chemical properties, atrazine is frequently detected in water quality monitoring programs, making it a common herbicide contaminant in both surface and groundwater. Lead is a metal contaminant, microbes are biological contaminants, and while glyphosate is another herbicide, atrazine is the one most consistently associated with water monitoring data.