WASHINGTON – Over 53,000 people have signed a petition urging President Joe Biden to ban the use of paraquat, a highly toxic weedkiller that has been scientifically linked to Parkinson’s disease and other health harms.
The petition was circulated through a partnership between the Environmental Working Group and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, alongside a coalition of farmworker, labor, health, and environmental organizations.
Millions of pounds of paraquat continue to be sprayed across American farmland each year. The petitioners are demanding that Biden’s Environmental Protection Agency bans the weedkiller, to protect farmworkers, their families and those who live and work in communities where it is sprayed.
Despite mounting evidence of paraquat’s dangers, the EPA continues to endorse its widespread use, in direct contrast to the actions of the more than 70 countries that have already banned the chemical.
Scott Faber, Senior Vice President for government affairs, EWG:
“Paraquat is one of the most toxic pesticides used by conventional agriculture operations in the U.S. and has been linked to Parkinson’s disease, among other serious health harms, it’s time for President Biden and his EPA to listen to the science and the tens of thousands of people who want to see this dangerous chemical banned once and for all.”
Erica Lomeli Corcoran, UFW Foundation CEO:
“The UFW Foundation has always supported the banning of paraquat, a chemical whose exposure puts the lives of hundreds of thousands of farm workers at risk. Farm workers deserve a safe environment free from harmful substances that can impact not only their health but also the well-being of their families. Not only is paraquat dangerous for farm workers, but it also poses significant risks to consumers who may ingest produce treated by it. We are proud to stand alongside more than 58,000 Americans in urging the EPA to do the right thing and end the use of this deadly pesticide."
Mily Trevino Sauceda, Executive Director, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas:
“Alianza Nacional de Campesinas is pleased to see our legislators take a stand with farmworker women to ban Paraquat. Research has shown that for years, this extremely toxic herbicide contributes to Parkinson's disease as well as multiple respiratory illnesses. Our farmworker members and their families are on the front lines of our food system, often suffering undue exposure to such dangerous chemicals like Paraquat. We applaud our legislators’ and community's efforts and hope to continue to work with them in the struggle for farmworker dignity.”
Dr. Robert K. Musil, President and CEO, the Rachel Carson Council:
“The use of paraquat poses a direct threat to agricultural workers, ecosystems, and public health, an echo of the long-ignored warnings against toxic pesticides and herbicides first raised by Rachel Carson in the 1960s. Today’s overwhelming public response—over 58,000 grassroots signatures calling on EPA to institute a full ban on paraquat—signals a decision from the American public: we refuse to subject our farmers to fatal diseases like Parkinson’s in return for growing our food. It is now EPA’s choice whether to join the 70+ countries who have banned paraquat, or whether the U.S. will remain a toxic haven for outsourced chemical markets at the expense of its own citizens.”
Larry Gifford, President, PD Avengers:
“Continuing to utilize Paraquat in agriculture is akin to ignoring a ticking time bomb for neurological health. It's imperative that we recognize and act upon the clear link between Paraquat exposure and the rising incidence of Parkinson's disease."
In August, EWG and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research launched their campaign urging Biden and EPA to ban paraquat nationwide, with actions including the petition and other steps.
The petition signed by more than 53,000 people can be found here. The EPA has until mid-January to make a decision on paraquat.
