RESUMO
Atrazine (AT) has been detected in surface water and groundwater in many countries and regions around the world. Concentrations of AT in surface water, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and groundwater samples collected from the Taizi River basin, in northeast China, were analyzed using a gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) in order to clarify their spatial distribution and environmental behavior, and to assess their potential ecological risk. Concentrations of AT varied from 0-734.0 ng x L(-1) for surface water, 0-1 493.6 ng x g(-1) for SPM and 30.0-245.0 ng x L(-1) for groundwater, with averages of 335.3 ng x L(-1), 382.9 ng x L(-1), and 104.4 ng x L(-1), respectively. The logarithm in situ SPM-water partition coefficients (lg k(oc)) of AT were in the range of 3.50-4.14 indicating that adsorption of AT from the aqueous phase to SPM plays an important role in dissipating AT in surface water. Fluxes of AT in surface water ranged from 1.5-184.7 mg x s(-1) in the basin, calculated based on the measured flow velocity and concentrations in surface water and SPM. The maximum value of AT flux was found in the middle stream of the Taizi River (S7). The risk assessment suggested that the ecological risk of AT in surface water was low, with more than 95% of the species protected from risk in the Taizi River basin. However, the residue levels of AT in surface water of the Taizi River basin may cause potential environmental risks.