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Vermont is the first state to ban paraquat, a weed killer linked to Parkinson’s disease
The law includes a transition period for fruit growers as advocates cite research linking exposure to Parkinson’s disease.
- Vermont has become the first U.S. state to ban paraquat, the widely used herbicide, citing a potential link to Parkinson's disease, with the legislation taking effect Nov. 1.
- Despite widespread agricultural use, the U.S. Geological Survey reported more than 10 million pounds of paraquat were applied nationwide in 2018, while the European Union, United Kingdom, China, and Thailand have already banned the substance.
- Republican Vermont lawmaker and apple orchard owner Greg Burtt calls paraquat a "critical tool" for his operation, warning the ban places farmers at a competitive disadvantage against out-of-state growers using the budget-friendly herbicide.
- Dan Feehan of The Michael J. Fox Foundation called the ban a "significant victory" that shifts the national conversation, while Vermonter Ron McConnell, who has Parkinson's, stated "there's no safe way to use paraquat."
- Swiss chemical manufacturer Syngenta defended the herbicide's safety, citing more than 1,200 studies showing no peer-reviewed conclusion linking paraquat to Parkinson's, while the Environmental Protection Agency requires certified applicators to renew safety training every 3 years.
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31 Articles
First State Bans Paraquat, a Weed Killer Linked to Parkinson's Disease
(MedPage Today) -- Vermont has become the first U.S. state to ban paraquat, one of the most commonly used herbicides, with lawmakers citing a possible link between the weed killer and Parkinson's disease. The ban has been widely celebrated by...
·New York, United States
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Associated Press News+12 Reposted by 12 other sources
Vermont is the first state to ban paraquat, a weed killer linked to Parkinson's disease
Vermont is set to become the first U.S. state to ban paraquat, a commonly used herbicide that experts say is linked to Parkinson’s disease.
·New York, United States
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Total News Sources31
Leaning Left4Leaning Right4Center23Last UpdatedBias Distribution74% Center
Bias Distribution
- 74% of the sources are Center
74% Center
13%
C 74%
13%
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