California bans paraquat, highly toxic herbicide outlawed in more than 70 countries
California has banned the use of paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide linked to Parkinson's disease, becoming the second US state to do so. The decision follows years of pressure from public health advocates despite federal reapproval of the chemical.
Why it matters
This represents a significant shift in agricultural policy regarding chemical safety and public health, potentially influencing future regulations in other states.
‘Paraquat is the most acutely lethal pesticide ever made,’ said Nathan Donley of the Center for Biological Diversity. Photograph: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images ‘Paraquat is the most acutely lethal pesticide ever made,’ said Nathan Donley of the Center for Biological Diversity. Photograph: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images California California bans paraquat, highly toxic herbicide outlawed in more than 70 countries State is US’s largest user of pesticide that is virtually proven to cause Parkinson’s disease
Prefer the Guardian on Google California is banning paraquat, a highly toxic, controversial herbicide used across millions of acres of American cropland.
Public health advocates characterize it as a deadly substance that is virtually proven to cause Parkinson’s disease. It is already outlawed in more than 70 countries, including China, the UK and the EU. Yet in the US, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reapproved it for use in 2021 and 2024.
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