Pesticide Used in U.S., But Banned in EU, Damages Intestines and Other Organs

By Pamela Ferdinand

Diquat, an herbicide banned in the European Union (EU) but still widely used in the U.S., damages the intestines and may also trigger a harmful chain reaction in the rest of the body — injuring the liver, kidney and lungs, according to a new review of more than 100 studies.

The herbicide has traditionally been studied for its toxic effects on the liver and kidneys. However, this review, published in May in Frontiers in Pharmacology, suggests the intestines are a key target for its harmful effects.

Studies show that diquat weakens the intestinal barrier, kills beneficial bacteria, interferes with nutrient absorption and triggers chronic inflammation, among other impacts.

These local injuries may fuel damage in distant organs through a “gut-organ axis,” making diquat’s toxicity more widespread and dangerous than previously understood, the researchers say.