Vermont Becomes First US State to Ban Paraquat Herbicide over Parkinson's Fears

Vermont has become the first US state to ban the toxic paraquat herbicide, citing strong links to Parkinson's disease. The Silicon Review reports on the landmark legislation after it passed both legislative chambers.

Vermont has officially become the first state in the nation to ban the toxic paraquat herbicide, a chemical widely used in agriculture that has been linked to Parkinson's disease. Both the Vermont House and Senate have now passed the legislation, sending it to Governor Phil Scott's desk for final approval.

The bill prohibits use of the herbicide after 2030. Until then, farmers would be allowed to use paraquat only with special permission from the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets. Only 125 gallons of the herbicide were sold in the state last year, primarily used by orchardists for apples and berries.

Paraquat is already banned in more than 70 countries, including the European Union, China, and Brazil, but remains legal in the U.S. The chemical's manufacturer, Syngenta, announced earlier this year that it would stop producing the weed killer amid thousands of lawsuits over Parkinson's.

Scientists have studied the link between paraquat and Parkinson's for decades. The chemical triggers oxidative stress that kills dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, the hallmark pathology of the disorder. People exposed to paraquat face a significantly higher risk of developing Parkinson's, and those with prior exposure may experience faster progression of motor and cognitive symptoms.

An estimated 2,500 Vermonters currently live with Parkinson's, the fastest-growing neurological disorder in the world. The Michael J. Fox Foundation and the University of Vermont's Parkinson's center have backed the ban.

Efforts to ban paraquat are now underway in about a dozen other states, including California, New York, and Minnesota. The Environmental Working Group called Vermont's legislation "landmark" and said it "will prevent needless exposure to a chemical tied to a devastating disease".

As Vermont becomes the first US state to ban paraquat, The Silicon Review examines how this legislation could set a powerful precedent for other states considering similar bans on the toxic herbicide linked to Parkinson's disease.

Q: What is paraquat and why is Vermont banning it?
A: Paraquat is a toxic herbicide used on crops like apples, berries, and soybeans. Vermont is banning it because a growing body of scientific evidence links exposure to the chemical with an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

Q: Has any other state banned paraquat before Vermont?
A: No. Vermont is the first state in the U.S. to ban paraquat. Bills have been introduced in about a dozen other states, but none have passed into law before Vermont.

Q: What does the Vermont paraquat ban require?
A: The bill requires farmers to obtain a license to use paraquat by fall 2026 and bans all use of the herbicide entirely by 2030. Farmers can use it only with special permission from the state agriculture agency.

Q: What countries have already banned paraquat?
A: Paraquat is banned in more than 70 countries, including the European Union, China, Brazil, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Q: What does the scientific research say about paraquat and Parkinson's?
A: Studies show that paraquat triggers oxidative stress that damages dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. People exposed to the chemical face a higher risk of developing Parkinson's, and prior exposure may accelerate progression of symptoms.

Q: Who supported the Vermont paraquat ban?
A: The Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Environmental Working Group, and the University of Vermont's Parkinson's Center backed the legislation. The bill also had support from Parkinson's patients and families who testified at the Statehouse.