First US state passes ban on paraquat, herbicide tied to higher Parkinson’s risk
MJFF urging other states to follow Vermont's lead in stopping chemical's use
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- Vermont legislators have banned paraquat, an herbicide strongly linked to increased Parkinson's disease risk.
- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, which has long advocated for a ban, applauded the decision.
- Advocates are now urging other U.S. states and the federal EPA to ban the herbicide's use.Â
Vermont has become the first U.S. state to pass legislation to ban the sale and use of paraquat, an herbicide strongly linked to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.
With similar bills introduced in a dozen states this year — including New York, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota — Vermont’s newly enacted ban appears to mark a bipartisan interest in policies nationwide to prioritize brain health, according to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF), which has long advocated for an end to paraquat’s use. The nonprofit is now urging other states to take similar action to ban the herbicide.
The bill is expected to be delivered to Vermont’s governor, Phil Scott, who will have 10 days to sign it into law, according to an MJFF press release.
The legislation, known as H. 739, will begin rolling out later this year, with some crops transitioning gradually before a full statewide ban in December 2030. The bill also gives farmers time to adopt safer, affordable, and widely available alternatives.
The decision follows years of advocacy by the MJFF to eliminate paraquat exposure as a preventable environmental risk for the neurodegenerative disease. In addition to urging individual states to ban the herbicide, the MJFF has put pressure on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to institute a federal ban.
“The evidence linking paraquat exposure to increased Parkinson’s risk is strong and has been building for decades,” said Dan Feehan, MJFF’s chief policy and government affairs officer. “Vermont’s leadership sends a clear message: We do not have to wait to act.”
Feehan added: “Other states should follow Vermont’s lead — and the federal government has an obligation to protect all Americans with a national paraquat ban.”
Michael J. Fox, who has been living with the disease for 35 years and is the founder of the MJFF, expressed his personal appreciation to all who fought for the new measure.
“I’m grateful to the patients, advocates, lawmakers and scientists who stepped up to protect Vermonters from paraquat. Now it’s time for other states — and Washington — to do the same,” Fox said.
More than 70 countries have already banned paraquat use
Parkinson’s is marked by the loss of nerve cells that produce dopamine, a chemical messenger essential for muscle control. A hallmark feature of the disease is the formation of clumps of misfolded proteins, called Lewy bodies, that are toxic to nerve cells and can spread to other brain regions. This is thought to contribute to disease progression.
Exposure to certain toxins and chemicals, including pesticides and herbicides like paraquat, has been linked to a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease. Specifically, according to the MJFF, people who use paraquat have twice the risk of developing the disease than those using other pesticides. The risk is also higher for those living or working in areas where the chemical is used.
More than 70 countries, including China and the nations of the European Union, have banned paraquat due to scientific evidence showing its link to Parkinson’s. However, the EPA has still allowed its use in the U.S.
Advocates have been pressing the regulatory agency for more than a decade to restrict or prohibit the chemical’s use in the U.S., providing the EPA with more than 90 scientific studies on paraquat risk. Supporters of a nationwide ban have also collected petition signatures and mobilized community members to contact Congress.
This is a turning point for public health and for the Parkinson’s community.
In 2022, the agency initiated a new evaluation of paraquat safety concerns, including exposure and inhalation risks, and the decision has been pending since then. Earlier this year, the EPA said it would ask manufacturers for safety data on paraquat use in real-world conditions.
The U.S. House of Representatives recently approved the bipartisan Luna Amendment to the federal Farm Bill, which preserves states’ authority for pesticide regulation and safety and ensures pesticide companies can be sued if their products cause harm. However, federal action is needed to extend protection beyond the state level.
The MJFF continues to call on the EPA to complete its review of paraquat and end use of the herbicide in accordance with scientific evidence.
Meanwhile, Feehan lauded lawmakers in Vermont for taking a stand.
“This is a turning point for public health and for the Parkinson’s community,” Feehan said.
David Blacker
Thank you for outlining so clearly the background and process of this landmark decision. I am hoping tge same thing can be done in Australia.
Patricia Linn
I am thrilled to see this progress in Paraquat legislation. I recently wrote a couple of Letters to the Editor to the New York Times, but was feeling a bit hopeless because neither was published. But now this news enabling states to impose boundaries is most welcome. I attribute my Parkinson’s exposure to following a DDT truck each summer that provided a cooling spray. Can you envision a grade-school science unit offered each year to help children learn the dangers?