California bans paraquat, highly toxic herbicide outlawed in more than 70 countries
State is US’s largest user of pesticide that is virtually proven to cause Parkinson’s disease California is banning paraquat, a highly toxic, controversial herbicide used across millions of acres of American cropland. Public health advocates characterize it as a deadly substance that is virtually proven to cause Parkinson’s disease. It is already outlawed in more than 70 countries, including…
California has banned the use of paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide that is banned in over 70 countries, including China, the UK, and the EU. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved its use in 2021 and 2024, despite the substance's well-documented health risks. California, the largest agricultural producer in the US, is the largest user of paraquat among all states.
The ban, the second in the US after Vermont, comes after a 2024 law required the state to re-evaluate the risks of paraquat. Nathan Donley, an environmental health science director, described paraquat as "the most acutely lethal pesticide ever made" and praised the decision as a major public health victory. Paraquat, used for decades to kill weeds, has been linked to Parkinson's disease, cancer, heart failure, kidney failure, liver failure, and lung scarring.
It is particularly harmful to agricultural workers and communities, and poses significant risks to wildlife. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) canceled the last remaining paraquat registration and will phase it out over two years. Industry groups opposed the ban, claiming it bypasses scientific review and could lead to a full ban.
The DPR's preliminary review confirmed health concerns, including associations with thyroid disease, reproductive harm, and birth defects. The department requested updated data from pesticide makers but received no response, leading to the withdrawal of paraquat by major manufacturers like Syngenta. This ban follows a legal challenge at the federal level, which could pressure the EPA to act on the substance.
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