Ingredients of Weed Killer

Glyphosate

• Glyphosate is one of the most widely available pesticides used to kill weeds in home gardens and crop fields, according to EcoChem, a source for online landscaping information and products. Introduced during the mid-1970s, glyphosate is absorbed through a plant's leaves and travels through the plant. Herbicides that contain glyphosate typically also have one or more surfactants, which are wetting agents that help spread the solution throughout the plant. Although products containing glyphosate pose no health risk to humans, glyphosate can cause an eye to swell if it comes into contact with it, and accidental drenching on the hands and arms can cause eczema, according to EcoChem.

Paraquat

• Another common weed killer is paraquat, which is restricted only to individuals who are commercially licensed applicators, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Paraquat is effective in a wide variety of weather conditions and becomes inactive in the soil after killing the weeds, according to Paraquat.com. First produced in 1961 for commercial uses, paraquat is highly poisonous. As a result, the weed killer in the United States contains a blue dye to help individuals avoid confusing it with other liquids and beverages. Paraquat also has an agent that causes a person who ingests it to vomit. Paraquat can cause poisoning if exposed to the skin for long periods of time or if exposed to skin that contains cuts or sores. In addition, the pesticide can cause poisoning that results in lung damage if inhaled.

Diquat

• Diquat is yet another common weed killer ingredient. Diquat is a fast-acting herbicide that produces weed-killing results in about two weeks, according to LakeHolland.net, an online source for lake management information in Massachusetts. Diquat, an herbicide that has been used in the United States since the 1950s, is helpful for both crop and aquatic weeds and quickly adheres to soil particles, reports H2O4U.org. The agent is helpful in that it is effective against various plant root systems and can be used for spot treatments. However, diquat can cause dehydration or cataracts if a person is exposed to it at high levels.