California's taking steps to phase out paraquat, a herbicide linked to serious health risks like Parkinson's disease. Concerns over its safety are rising even as U.S. farmers use millions of pounds annually on crops.
First commercialized in the 1960s,paraquat became an agricultural staple for its quick results. But its dangers are under fire. In March,after lawsuits tied paraquat to illnesses,Syngenta decided to stop making it,leaving generics to fill the gap.
California's move follows Vermont, first state to ban paraquat in May. In June,bipartisan support grew for a nationwide ban,led by Reps. Chellie Pingree and Anna Paulina Luna. Yet,federal regulators haven't acted decisively,blamed on complexities of U.S. pesticide laws.
Farmers like Chris Goodman in Georgia argue paraquat is essential for tackling persistent weeds like pigweed. He uses hundreds of gallons yearly, especially for cotton and peanuts, and says the health risks are overstated: “I’ve been spraying paraquat since I was 10, and I don’t have Parkinson’s.”
On the other side, Stephanie Johnson calls for ban after losing her husband, Rick, to Parkinson’s in 2023. She was diagnosed soon after. “I don’t understand why we have not banned it in this country,” she says.
Research links paraquat to neurological damage. Initially thought safe,studies from the early 2000s showed it crosses the blood-brain barrier, affecting dopamine neurons tied to Parkinson's. Dr. Donato Di Monte warns of its role in protein buildup linked to disease. “We don’t have the killer with the gun,” he said, “but we do have a lot of clues.”
Dr. Caroline Tanner led a study finding paraquat users were 2.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson's. Even Syngenta's predecessors knew of its brain effects as far back as the 1970s.
Globally, about 70 countries, including EU, Brazil,and China, have banned paraquat,often due to suicides among agricultural workers. In India, it's linked to 10,000 to 20,000 suicides annually.
In U.S.,paraquat usage more than doubled from 2008 to 2018. The EPA concluded in 2021 there wasn't enough evidence linking paraquat to Parkinson's,opting for limited access and safety gear over a ban.
But new data from 2024 shows paraquat vaporizes more than thought,prompting the EPA to revisit its stance. They're seeking more studies from Syngenta.
The regulatory maze is tough. Federal Insecticide,Fungicide,and Rodenticide Act requires the EPA to weigh a chemical's risks against benefits,complicating bans. Past attempts to restrict pesticides faced legal hurdles, showing how hard it is to change regulations . Scott Faber of the Environmental Working Group criticizes the system: “Our pesticide laws are broken.”
Litigation is changing financial picture for manufacturers. In 2021, Syngenta settled a $187.5 million lawsuit in Illinois for about 300 people with Parkinson's from paraquat exposure. This year,they settled another case in Philadelphia. Over 6,600 paraquat claims are in federal court in Illinois, with a global settlement proposed .
The paraquat debate rages on, with calls for a ban and farmers defending its necessity .
