A review of scientific literature says fludioxonil, a fungicide used on hundreds of crops, may persist on produce, interfere with glutathione and generate more toxic breakdown products after sunlight exposure.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A synthetic fungicide widely used on fruits, berries, vegetables and herbs is drawing new scrutiny after researchers linked it to oxidative stress, a biological process associated with several chronic diseases and cellular damage.
A review published June 3 in PeerJ by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Pisa examined scientific data from 2021 to 2025 on fludioxonil, a phenylpyrrole fungicide used on more than 900 types of plants in the United States. The review found evidence that the chemical may disrupt the body’s antioxidant defenses by depleting glutathione, a compound found in every cell and central to the body’s ability to counter cellular damage.
Fludioxonil is commonly used on fruit trees, berries, herbs and vegetables. According to the review, it is also frequently applied after harvest to prevent mold during shipping and storage, meaning residues may remain on produce closer to the time consumers eat it.
The researchers said the chemical’s effect on glutathione may be a key part of its toxicity.
“Glutathione depletion via fludioxonil may thus comprise a key mechanism for its toxicity in living organisms,” the researchers wrote.
Glutathione is often described as one of the body’s most important antioxidants. It helps protect cells from oxidative stress, which occurs when unstable molecules known as reactive oxygen species outpace the body’s ability to neutralize them. When that balance is disrupted, cells can experience damage, impaired signaling and reduced repair capacity.
The review said that fludioxonil may interfere with glutathione homeostasis, weakening the body’s ability to manage oxidative stress. The authors connected oxidative stress to conditions including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, liver failure and diabetes.
The review also raised concerns about how fludioxonil changes after it is sprayed. While many pesticides become less hazardous as they break down in sunlight, the authors said fludioxonil can degrade after ultraviolet exposure into a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance, or PFAS, commonly referred to as a “forever chemical” because of its persistence in the environment and human tissue.
According to the review, breakdown products formed after UV radiation exposure are “approximately 100-fold more toxic than the parent compound.”
That finding challenges earlier industry claims. The review noted that original data from Ciba-Geigy, now Syngenta, described fludioxonil in 1993 as “resistant to UV photolysis and free from concerns regarding toxic synergy.” The newer evidence, according to the authors, suggests those conclusions did not adequately account for the risks posed by its degradation products.
For consumers, residue persistence may be one of the most immediate concerns. The review described fludioxonil as “highly hydrophobic,” meaning it repels water, and said it is “particularly difficult to wash off of produce.” Because of that property, a substantial amount may remain on food even after thorough washing.
The authors said this persistence is especially significant because fludioxonil is not used only before harvest. It can also be applied directly to fruits and vegetables after they have been boxed for shipment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates such uses, but the review authors argued that current oversight does not sufficiently distinguish between post-harvest applications and pesticides that are applied in fields and then degrade over time before consumption.
The review also cited prior testing by the Environmental Working Group. A 2018 survey found fludioxonil in common baby food brands at levels that significantly exceeded the EPA’s Maximum Residue Level, according to the review. A 2023 follow-up study found similar contamination.
Research discussed in the review also challenged the idea that fludioxonil affects only fungal organisms. Work led by Dr. Tristan Brandhorst found that the fungicide acts on a sugar-metabolizing enzyme common to all cells, suggesting the compound may affect humans and other organisms as well.
Additional work by Brandhorst suggested that fludioxonil’s effect on glutathione could weaken the body’s ability to respond to illnesses such as COVID-19, potentially contributing to longer illness rather than recovery. The review said glutathione also plays a role in blood pressure regulation, glucose regulation and protection against cell damage in conditions including hypertension and diabetes.
The authors concluded that the risks associated with fludioxonil and its PFAS breakdown products go beyond what the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act defines as “unreasonable adverse effects.” They argued that the broader removal of petrochemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers from the food system is necessary to protect human health and the environment.
For consumers seeking to reduce exposure, the review pointed to USDA organic certification as the available alternative. Organic standards reject synthetic fungicides such as fludioxonil, and studies cited by the authors indicate that switching to a fully organic diet can lower pesticide levels in the body and support faster DNA damage repair.
The review adds to growing concerns about the long-term effects of chemical residues on food, particularly compounds that resist washing, persist in the body or produce more toxic byproducts after environmental exposure.
The researchers said more scrutiny is needed as the use of synthetic agricultural chemicals continues and consumers remain largely unaware that some residues may stay on produce even after it is washed.
Watch the video below to learn more about paraquat, Parkinson’s disease and the growing pesticide pushback.
This video is from The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com.
Source: Natural News
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