Vermont has moved to restrict one of America's most widely used herbicides, becoming the first state to ban paraquat following mounting scientific evidence that the weedkiller substantially increases the risk of Parkinson's disease. Governor Phil Scott signed the legislation Tuesday, with the ban taking effect November 1.
The law contains a significant carve-out: state regulators can issue special permits for paraquat use on fruit-producing tree orchards and small fruit crops through December 31, 2030. The state will also conduct annual reporting on any paraquat use and fund a study on alternative options for farmers.
Vermont's action arrives amid a surge of concern about paraquat's health effects. The herbicide has been used across the United States since 1964 to kill broadleaf weeds and grasses, becoming especially common in cultivation of soybeans, cotton, corn, grapes, pistachios, and peanuts. While banned in several countries, it remains one of America's most widely applied herbicides.
Lawmakers who pushed the bill pointed to research from the National Institutes of Health linking paraquat exposure to a substantial increase in Parkinson's risk. Some cited additional studies connecting the chemical to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and childhood leukemia.
"There are so many factors that are pointing to the correlation between paraquat use and Parkinson's," state representative Michelle Bos-Lun said during a May 13 House committee hearing. "We have to do something to phase this out."
Some lawmakers expressed worry that Vermont farmers would face a competitive disadvantage if neighboring states continued allowing the herbicide. Others countered that the scientific evidence is established and the risks of inaction outweigh potential economic harm.
The debate reflects a broader shift in attitudes toward paraquat. Ray Dorsey, a neurologist directing research into environmental causes of brain disease at Atria Health and Research Institute, called Vermont's move "another step toward preventing this largely man-made disease" and said the United States is overdue for a federal ban.
Multiple state legislatures have introduced paraquat ban proposals, and several federal lawmakers have also called for restrictions. The momentum comes as Parkinson's cases have more than doubled globally over the past 25 years, according to the World Health Organization.
Syngenta, the major paraquat manufacturer, long maintained no credible evidence connects the herbicide to Parkinson's. Yet more than 8,000 lawsuits are pending in U.S. courts alleging the chemical caused the disease. The company has settled numerous cases without admitting liability and has been negotiating bulk settlements of remaining claims.
In April, Syngenta announced it would stop manufacturing paraquat and cease selling paraquat products in the United States and other countries. Generic versions remain available from other suppliers.
Internal corporate records revealed by The Guardian in 2022 and 2023 showed Syngenta and predecessor entities had tracked concerns about paraquat and Parkinson's for decades while employing strategies to downplay research linking the chemical to the disease and influence regulatory decisions.
Dan Feehan, chief policy officer for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, a major advocacy group pushing for bans, called the scientific evidence "strong and has been building for decades." He urged other states to follow Vermont and called on the federal government to establish a nationwide ban.
Parkinson's develops when dopamine-producing neurons degenerate. The progressive disease ultimately robs people of normal speech and movement, making prevention efforts a significant public health priority.
Author James Rodriguez: "Vermont's first-in-the-nation ban signals a turning point, but a federal solution is the only way to protect Americans across all states."
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