Australian Pesticides Map

A WATER QUALITY ISSUES ANALYSIS FOR THE JOHNSTONE RIVER BASIN

Report No. 11/05

for Terrain NRM

Stephen Lewis and Jon Brodie

Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research, James Cook University

Final report April 2011

Agrochemicals

Herbicides

… Russell and Hales (1993; Russell et al., 1996) detected atrazine in mussels and mudcrabs, 2,4-D in mussels, mudcrabs and catfish and 2,4,5-T in catfish in the Johnstone River which suggested that these herbicides had some bio-accumulation potential. Of these herbicides detected in the water and aquatic animals, it appears that concentrations of diuron, 2,4-D and tebuthiuron would be of most concern in the Johnstone Basin. Moreover, the detection of 2,4,5-T also raises some concerns with the potential associated dioxins in this herbicide.

1990’s: Johnstone River Qld: Faunal impacts. Pesticides: Atrazine, 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T

A WATER QUALITY ISSUES ANALYSIS FOR THE JOHNSTONE RIVER BASIN

Report No. 11/05

for Terrain NRM

Stephen Lewis and Jon Brodie

Australian Centre for Tropical Freshwater Research, James Cook University

Final report April 2011

Agrochemicals

Herbicides

… Russell and Hales (1993; Russell et al., 1996) detected atrazine in mussels and mudcrabs, 2,4-D in mussels, mudcrabs and catfish and 2,4,5-T in catfish in the Johnstone River which suggested that these herbicides had some bio-accumulation potential. Of these herbicides detected in the water and aquatic animals, it appears that concentrations of diuron, 2,4-D and tebuthiuron would be of most concern in the Johnstone Basin. Moreover, the detection of 2,4,5-T also raises some concerns with the potential associated dioxins in this herbicide.