Molinate

Molinate is an herbicide used to control broad-leafed and grassy weeds on rice crops. Its has been banned in the United States since 2009.

Although it has a brief half-life, molinate dissolves easily in water and doesn't bind readily with soils, making it a potential groundwater concern.

Health Effects of Molinate

Molinate is moderately toxic with acute exposure, causing symptoms of eye and skin irritation, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and weakness.

Animal studies of long term exposure have shown effects on body weight and damage to liver, kidneys, adrenal and thyroid glands. Humans exposed in a reported well contamination in Japan showed signs of abdominal and gastrointestinal problems, fever, weakness, and conjuntivitis, all of which disappeared when an alternate water source was used. In animal studies, it has been shown to affect reproductive abilities, but humans exposed to molinate have not shown similar effects. It is not believed to be carcinogenic.

Water Treatment for Molinate

The World Health Organization recommends granular activated carbon (GAC) for the treatment of molinate.

Sources: EPA, WHO, EXTOXNET, Photo: geograph.org.uk, author: Walter Baxter