Thousands of U.S. farmers have Parkinson's. They blame a deadly pesticide
15 hours ago
- #Parkinsons-disease
- #environmental-health
- #pesticides
- Paul Friday, a farmer, links his Parkinson's disease to decades of spraying paraquat, a toxic pesticide, on his peach orchard.
- Paraquat is banned in over 70 countries, including the UK and China, but remains legal in the US, where its use is increasing.
- Thousands of lawsuits allege paraquat exposure causes Parkinson's, with over 6,400 cases pending in US courts against manufacturers Syngenta and Chevron.
- Research suggests paraquat exposure increases Parkinson's risk by 150%, with long-term, low-level exposure posing significant threats.
- The EPA reauthorized paraquat in 2021 despite evidence of harm, citing its agricultural benefits, but faces legal challenges and public pressure to ban it.
- Internal documents reveal manufacturers knew of paraquat's potential neurotoxicity as early as the 1970s but downplayed risks.
- California and Pennsylvania are considering state bans, while federal lawmakers urge the EPA to act, highlighting risks to farmworkers and rural communities.
- Parkinson's disease, the fastest-growing neurological disorder, is projected to double by 2050, with pesticides like paraquat identified as major environmental contributors.