The EPA announced last week that it will withdraw its 2021 decision on paraquat, a pesticide linked to Parkinson’s disease, and delay further action while it gathers more data on the chemical’s risks.
Carey Gillam reports for The New Lede.
In short:
- The EPA requested to withdraw its interim decision on paraquat, citing the need for more data on inhalation risks and potential health effects.
- Critics, including health advocacy groups and lawmakers, argue the delay endangers lives and prolongs exposure to a chemical linked to Parkinson’s disease and other illnesses.
- Internal documents allege paraquat manufacturer Syngenta worked to suppress evidence of the pesticide's risks while lawsuits from affected individuals are ongoing in the U.S. and Canada.
Key quote:
“Instead of facing us in court, EPA is cowering behind the tired old industry tactic of delay, delay, delay.”
— Nathan Donley, environmental health science director at the Center for Biological Diversity
Why this matters:
Paraquat remains one of the most widely used pesticides in the U.S., despite being banned in 70 countries due to its toxicity. Its potential link to Parkinson’s raises concerns for farmworkers and rural communities, who face higher exposure risks. The EPA’s decision could shape future regulation of hazardous pesticides.
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