The EPA Backtracks on Halting Aerial Paraquat Spraying:
Paraquat is an herbicide and a toxic chemical used to control weeds and grass. Farmers use Paraquat to control invasive weeds on more than 100 crops. However, many people have never heard of Paraquat, despite the health risks to farmers and farm workers across the U.S. In recent years, the EPA appeared to take the health risks seriously, issuing safety restrictions on the use of Paraquat. Now, the EPA appears to have backtracked on some of these safety measures.
Dangers of Paraquat
Even with short-term use, Paraquat is a dangerous chemical with a risk of poisoning if someone accidentally ingests, inhales, or is somehow exposed through the skin, like during spraying of crops. Farm workers exposed to Paraquat through long-term use face the risk of chronic health conditions like Parkinson’s Disease, a degenerative nervous system disorder.
Original EPA Paraquat Safety Recommendations
Noting the risks of poisoning and long-term health issues, during the Trump administration, the EPA recommended halting all aerial spraying, also known as crop dusting, of the dangerous weedkiller, along with additional safety measures. The new limitations included:
- Prohibiting aerial spraying,
- Prohibiting backpack spraying and pressurized spraying methods,
- Requiring enclosed cabs for more than 80 acres of application,
- Requiring either respirators or enclosed cabs for applications of fewer than 80 acres,
- Requiring a residential area drift buffer and seven-day restricted entry for cotton desiccation,
- Requiring a 48-hour restricted entry for all other applications other than cotton desiccation, and
- A mandatory spray drift warning label on paraquat products.
The EPA Backtracks
Now, the EPA is reversing its restriction on aerial spraying, stating it would allow Paraquat crop dusting to continue based on new information from the chemical manufacturers. The Agricultural Handler Exposure Task Force reported that the EPA had overestimated potential risks faced by farm workers. Despite this, the Center for Biological Diversity calls Paraquat “the most acutely lethal herbicide still in use today.”
Contact the Madeksho Law Firm
If you believe that Paraquat has made you or a loved one sick, contact the Madeksho Law Firm. We may be able to help. Contact us through our online form or by phone at 1-888-910-6376. You won’t pay a fee unless we recover compensation for you, and your initial consultation is always free.
