State Defends Safety of Diquat, Banned in the EU, for Use in Our Waterways

By Julia Barcello

Diquat dibromide, a European herbicide, is used to kill invasive water species across the country. The Connecticut government claims to have found hydrilla in waters across the state.

Hydrilla is an underwater invasive plant which blocks sunlight from native plants. This ultimately reduces oxygen levels altering habitats for fish and other wildlife. The plant also degrades water quality. In order to terminate hydrilla, many states utilize diaquat. The invasive plant was first identified in the state in 2016 in the Connecticut River.

In an ongoing project by the Army Corps of Engineers, diquat is being used to stop the spread of hydrilla.

Connecticut State Representative Hector Arzeno says that the Army Corps of Engineers believes diquat is safe so residents shouldn’t