During a congressional briefing on Tuesday, public health advocates and farmworkers urged for a federal ban on paraquat dichloride, a toxic herbicide linked to Parkinson’s disease. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will decide next year whether to renew the herbicide’s license for another 15 years. Paraquat, widely used in agriculture for weed control, is banned in over 70 countries and associated with serious health issues, including cancer and an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s.
Nora Jackson, a former farmworker from Indiana, shared her cousin’s experience of developing Parkinson’s at 55 after working with paraquat, despite the typical onset age being around 60. “Farmworkers often have to do extremely risky jobs … but it doesn’t have to be that way,” Jackson emphasized, advocating for a safer agricultural system.
The briefing was organized by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, and the Environmental Working Group. Michael J. Fox, diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s at 29, founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation to support research.
Advocates called on the EPA to deny paraquat’s license renewal, arguing that current regulations have failed to prevent exposure. “People using this chemical as directed are still developing Parkinson’s disease,” stated Scott Faber, senior vice president of the Environmental Working Group.
Parkinson’s affects the nervous system, leading to tremors, balance issues, and stiffness, with no cure available. Meanwhile, California’s legislature is working towards banning the herbicide.
David Jilbert, a former farmworker diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2021, noted that despite following safety protocols, his health deteriorated, leading him to sell his vineyard. “My diagnosis changed everything, affecting every aspect of my life,” he said.
Charlene Tenbrink, who worked on her family farm where she handled paraquat, was diagnosed in 2020 and expressed disappointment over the lack of government awareness regarding the herbicide’s risks. “We’ve been trying to change this for a long time,” she remarked.
