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Vermont Becomes First U.S. State to Ban Paraquat Herbicide over Possible Link to Parkinson’s
The law takes effect Nov. 1 and allows only limited exemptions through 2030 as lawmakers cited research linking paraquat exposure to Parkinson's disease.
- On Tuesday, Vermont Governor Phil Scott signed House Bill 739, making Vermont the first U.S. state to ban paraquat, a toxic herbicide linked to Parkinson's disease, effective November 1 with limited agricultural exemptions through December 31, 2030.
- Research from the National Institutes of Health dating to at least 2011 concluded paraquat exposure is positively associated with Parkinson's disease; a 2013 Neurology paper found exposure roughly doubled the risk, with more than 8,000 lawsuits pending in U.S. courts.
- Dan Feehan, chief policy and government affairs officer for the Michael J. Fox Foundation, stated "the evidence linking paraquat exposure to increased Parkinson's risk is strong and has been building for decades." The Environmental Working Group's Geoff Horsfield called it a turning point for public health protection.
- Lawmakers in California, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania are reportedly fast-tracking similar paraquat restrictions following Vermont's action, with Parkinson's advocacy groups and environmental organizations praising the landmark legislation.
- Though Syngenta announced in April it would cease paraquat production, generic formulations continue from other suppliers, and the herbicide remains widely used across U.S. agriculture despite bans in over 70 countries worldwide. PIRG campaigner Liam Sacino urged states not to wait for federal action.
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Vermont becomes first U.S. state to ban paraquat herbicide over possible link to Parkinson’s
Vermont has become the first state to ban paraquat herbicide, with lawmakers citing research claiming the chemical increases the risk of Parkinson’s. (AP Photo)
·Spokane, United States
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