Diquat and endothall: Their fates in the environment

Abstract

Diquat and endothall are agricultural defoliants and desiccants widely used for aquatic weed control. The review evaluates their fate in soils, plants, animals and aquatic systems as well as their toxicity to mammals, fish and invertebrates. Discussions of methodologies of extracting and identifying residues in various materials are included. Inadequate methods of determining low levels of endothall in soils and sediments appear to limit extensive investigations regarding the ecological fate of the herbicide.