WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Environmental Working Group today renewed its call for a total ban on paraquat following a dangerous spill of the herbicide in Siskiyou County, Calif.
The incident triggered shelter-in-place orders and exposed hundreds of residents to one of the most toxic crop chemicals still used in the U.S.
According to news reports, a large container of paraquat fell from a truck in the northern California town Dorris, spilling roughly 60 gallons of the chemical onto a major roadway and into the surrounding community.
Citing the risk of exposure to airborne paraquat releases, officials ordered a lockdown affecting about 600 residents, including those at a local elementary school.
“This incident is a stark reminder that paraquat is simply too dangerous to be used anywhere near where people live, work or go to school,” said Geoff Horsfield, legislative director at EWG.
“When a single spill can shut down a town, close highways and put hundreds of people at risk, it’s clear this chemical has no place in U.S. agriculture,” he added.
The Environmental Protection Agency recently announced a review of paraquat after a study submitted by the primary manufacturer found the chemical can drift in the air nearly 3 miles, significantly farther than previously thought.
Underscoring the severity of the threat, local officials warned residents to stay indoors, shut off ventilation systems and avoid contact with the chemical. Highway closures and a multi-agency emergency response further illustrated how hazardous paraquat releases can quickly escalate into a full-blown community crisis.
Serious health consequences
Paraquat is a highly toxic weedkiller that can be fatal if ingested. Even small amounts can cause severe organ damage.
Mounting scientific evidence also links chronic, low-dose exposure to serious health risks, including Parkinson’s disease. Farmers and farmworkers who apply paraquat face especially high risks, with studies showing they are twice as likely to be diagnosed with the disease as those who do not use the chemical.
Paraquat has also been associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, childhood leukemia and other illnesses.
Paraquat is primarily used to clear fields before farmers plant corn, soybeans, cotton, almonds, peanuts, wine grapes and other crops. While much of the applied paraquat lingers in the soil for years, it can also drift through the air or settle in dust.
A growing movement to ban paraquat
At least 70 countries, including China and the European Union, have banned paraquat because of its known health risks.
In the U.S., momentum is building for similar action, with 13 states – including Iowa, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Virginia – currently considering legislation to ban the chemical.
In California, EWG and other public interest organizations have repeatedly called on state officials to ban it. A 2024 investigation by EWG found that more than 5 million pounds of paraquat were applied to California farm fields between 2017 and 2021.
“Communities should not have to worry about a deadly pesticide spilling into their neighborhoods. The only real solution is to ban paraquat for once and for all,” said Horsfield.
###
The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.