⚠️ The New Roundup Danger: Why Diquat May Be Worse Than Glyphosate

by Iro Dimitrakopoulos


Just when you thought glyphosate was the worst thing in your garden shed, a new chemical is quietly taking its place—and it might be even more dangerous. Meet diquat, the latest herbicide pushed into widespread use as glyphosate faces lawsuits, bans, and global scrutiny.

While many believe glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup) is being phased out for something safer, diquat is proving to be anything but. In fact, emerging research suggests it may cause severe organ damage, gut dysbiosis, and even long-term neurological harm.


🔁 The Glyphosate Switch-Up: Enter Diquat

 

With more than 175,000 lawsuits linking glyphosate to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and the EPA under pressure to reevaluate its stance, manufacturers like Bayer have reformulated herbicides to replace glyphosate with diquat.

Sounds like a step forward, right? Not exactly.

🧪 What Is Diquat?

 

  • Diquat dibromide is a contact herbicide used to kill weeds, often in vineyards, orchards, and aquatic systems.
  • It’s not a systemic chemical like glyphosate (which travels through the plant). Instead, it destroys plant tissue on contact.
  • It has been banned in the European Union, UK, China, and several other countries due to serious health and environmental concerns.

🌏 Banned in China: A Telling Sign

Initially, diquat became popular in China after the country banned paraquat in 2016 due to its extreme toxicity. For a few years, diquat served as a common replacement in agriculture—until hospitals and doctors began sounding the alarm.

  • Poisoning rates rose—especially in rural communities—causing severe illness and even death among exposed children and adults.
  • The mortality rate from acute diquat poisoning in China was reported to be as high as 60% in some clinical cases.
  • As a result, China followed the EU and UK and banned diquat for domestic use, even though Chinese manufacturers (like Nanjing Red Sun) still export large volumes to other countries.


This reflects a disturbing global pattern: toxic chemicals banned at home are still manufactured and exported abroad, often to countries with weaker regulations or less public oversight.

💣 The Health Risks of Diquat

Emerging research reveals a far darker side to diquat:

  • 🧠 Neurological Damage: Similar to paraquat, diquat is linked to neurodegenerative effects including potential links to Parkinson’s disease.
  • 🦠 Gut Microbiome Destruction: Diquat damages the gut lining and kills beneficial bacteria, leading to chronic inflammation and immune dysfunction.
  • 🫁 Organ Toxicity: Shown to impair kidney, liver, and lung function—even at lower exposure levels.
  • ⚠️ 200x More Toxic: According to Friends of the Earth, diquat may be 200 times more damaging to human gut cells than glyphosate.

🌎 Why Is It Still Legal in the U.S.?

Despite bans elsewhere, diquat is still allowed in the U.S.—and its use is growing as glyphosate loses favor. Brands that now market “glyphosate-free” weedkillers are quietly replacing it with this equally or more toxic alternative.

This tactic, often called “regrettable substitution,” is when a banned substance is swapped for a similar or even worse one under the radar of consumer awareness.


💡 What You Can DO


✅ 1. Choose Organic or Regeneratively Grown Produce

 

Look for certifications like USDA Organic, Real Organic Project, or Regenerative Organic Certified—all of which prohibit synthetic herbicides like diquat.

 

✅ 2. Contact the EPA & Your Representatives

 

Demand that U.S. regulators:

  • Reevaluate the use of diquat using modern toxicological studies.
  • Ban it on school grounds, parks, and high-risk agricultural areas.

 

✅ 3. Avoid Chemical Herbicides Where Possible

Use mechanical weeding, vinegar-based sprays, flame weeders, and soil-building practices. While less convenient, these methods protect both your health and the environment.

✅ 4. Support Advocacy Organizations

Stay informed through:

📚 Sources & Further Reading

 

🌱 Final Thoughts

The replacement of glyphosate with diquat isn’t a solution—it’s a step backward hidden behind marketing labels. When countries like China ban a chemical yet continue exporting it, we must ask: Why is it still allowed here?

The more we learn, the clearer it becomes—clean living isn’t just a choice, it’s a movement rooted in awareness, action, and accountability.

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