Should Pesticides Like Paraquat Be Banned? Do the Risks Outweigh the Benefits?
You may have heard about the risks of exposure to some pesticides and herbicides, but many people haven’t heard about one of the most dangerous herbicides on the market, a chemical known as paraquat. Research shows a link between exposure to the deadly herbicide and Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder that can affect balance, movement, coordination, and speech as neurons in the brain break down.
What is Paraquat?
Paraquat is an herbicide used to control invasive weeds and grasses. The chemical is approved only for commercial agriculture, and farmers mainly use it on cotton, soybeans, and corn. The EPA first approved the use of paraquat in 1964. Imperial Chemical Industries first manufactured paraquat under the brand name Gramoxone, but now many companies make the chemical, including:
- Syngenta,
- Adama Group,
- Helm Agro,
- Sinon USA, Inc.,
- United Phosphorous,
- Altitude Crop Innovations, LLC, and
- Innvictis Crop Care, LLC.
Paraquat is popular with commercial farmers and is often used to supplement herbicides like Roundup on glyphosate-resistant weeds. Paraquat kills weeds on contact and breaks down quickly in the soil.
Why is Paraquat Dangerous?
While paraquat definitely has advantages in commercial farming, it’s one of the most dangerous herbicides on the market. If accidentally ingested or inhaled, paraquat is deadly. Even a small amount can lead to the failure of multiple organs and death within hours. The most common exposure route is through inhalation or contact with the skin. While those applying the chemical must have a commercial license and use chemical-resistant gloves, air-purifying respirators, chemical aprons, and safety glasses, people in the vicinity of crop spraying, particularly aerial spraying, may often face inadvertent exposure to paraquat.Paraquat exposure is also linked to Parkinson’s disease, particularly among farmworkers who faced ongoing exposure to the chemical. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently banned chlorpyrifos, another herbicide linked to Parkinson’s disease, from use on food. However, it recently reregistered paraquat for use in commercial farming. As a result, the EPA now faces a lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Paraquat manufacturers also face more than 600 lawsuits in federal and state courts. More than 30 countries, including China, have already banned the use of paraquat.
Call the Madeksho Law Firm
If you or a loved one has been harmed by paraquat exposure or poisoning, we may be able to help. Give the Madeksho Law Firm a call at 1-888-910-6376 or contact us online. Your first visit is complimentary, and you won’t pay a fee unless we recover money on your behalf.
