Health Concerns Mount as Agricultural Chemical Usage Rises

A growing coalition of U.S. lawmakers is pressing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prohibit the use of paraquat, a controversial herbicide linked to severe health risks, including Parkinson’s disease. The push for a nationwide ban comes amid increasing evidence of the chemical’s toxicity and its expanding use across American farmlands despite being prohibited in more than 70 countries worldwide.

5 Key Points

  • Over 50 U.S. lawmakers demand an EPA ban on paraquat herbicide.
  • Recent studies show doubled Parkinson’s risk within 500 meters of spray zones.
  • Paraquat use has tripled since 1992, reaching 15 million pounds in 2018.
  • The chemical is banned in 70+ countries, including China and EU nations.
  • Residue can persist in soil for years, potentially entering the food chain.

Congressional Push Gains Momentum

A powerful coalition of lawmakers turned up the heat on the EPA last week, as seven senators joined 47 representatives demanding action against paraquat. Their October 31 letter pulls no punches, pointing to stark evidence that living within 500 meters of spray zones doubles Parkinson’s disease risk. The chemical’s growing footprint across U.S. farmland has sparked alarm among rural state legislators. While paraquat can’t be sprayed in parks or on golf courses, its widespread agricultural use continues – a gap in protection that lawmakers call dangerous and arbitrary.

A Legacy of Health Concerns

Paraquat’s threats go far beyond Parkinson’s disease. Farmers and agricultural workers face risks of thyroid cancer, alongside potential kidney, liver, and lung damage from exposure. The chemical’s staying power poses an added danger – it clings to soil for years, refusing to break down. This persistence lets paraquat spread far beyond farms through wind and water, showing up in soil samples long after the last spray. Scientists tracking exposure patterns have documented the chemical’s ability to move through ecosystems and eventually into food supplies.

Farms Caught in the Crossfire

As glyphosate faces mounting scrutiny, many farmers have turned to paraquat as their go-to herbicide. Fields of corn, cotton, soybeans, peanuts, and grapes now see regular paraquat applications despite its “restricted use” status. Syngenta stands firm behind its product’s safety record, dismissing research linking it to disease. Yet 70 countries, including agricultural powerhouses China and Brazil, have already slammed the door on paraquat. American farms now use over 15 million pounds yearly—triple the amount sprayed in 1992.

Rural Communities Bear the Burden

The data tells a troubling story in farming regions, particularly among California’s Latino agricultural communities. Paraquat drift doesn’t respect property lines, carrying the chemical beyond target fields to nearby homes, schools, and businesses. Health issues remain among farmworkers and rural residents despite rules requiring certified applicators and protective gear. The EPA’s partial ban on recreational areas highlights a stark contrast – while suburban golf courses stay paraquat-free, agricultural workers face daily exposure risks.