‘Parkinson’s Valley’: the herbicide haunting a New York farm town
Residents of Hebron, New York, are calling for a ban on the herbicide paraquat, which they believe is linked to a cluster of Parkinson's disease cases in their community. Research has previously suggested a connection between the chemical and the degenerative brain disease.
Why it matters
The story underscores the ongoing public health debate regarding the safety of agricultural chemicals and their long-term environmental impact.
Gordan Chaplin and his wife, Sarah Teale, at their home in Hebron, New York. Photograph: Cindy Schultz for New York Focus Gordan Chaplin and his wife, Sarah Teale, at their home in Hebron, New York. Photograph: Cindy Schultz for New York Focus Herbicides ‘Parkinson’s Valley’: the herbicide haunting a New York farm town Paraquat is banned in over 70 countries. Some farmers and their families in Hebron believe the pesticide is causing Parkinson’s disease and are demanding that New York ban it
Prefer the Guardian on Google G ordon Chaplin gingerly stepped out of the car at the top of the steep hill behind his farmhouse, sporting a bandage on his hand from a fall the day before. He gripped his cane as he shuffled through the knee-high grass. He stopped every few feet to catch his breath, leaning on his caregiver for support.
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