Albany, N.Y. – A coalition of leading public health and environmental organizations sent a letter today urging swift passage of the Prohibit Paraquat Act, which would ban the use, sale and distribution of the highly toxic herbicide paraquat in the state.
The letter, sent to New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, urges the legislature to take action on A10074 / S9094 this session.
Paraquat is commonly used on crops such as corn, soybeans, strawberries, pears, grapes and apples. A growing body of peer-reviewed studies confirms that paraquat exposure directly increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, a disorder that affects tens of thousands of Americans.
It has also been linked to other severe health risks such as thyroid disorders, kidney damage, childhood leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Scientific research shows that even small exposures through air drift or contaminated dust can accumulate over time and pose significant threats to human health.
Despite these well-documented risks, paraquat continues to be used in ways that endanger farmworkers, their families and nearby communities, including aerial spraying without sufficient safety buffers.
“The human cost of paraquat is severe,” the groups wrote. “Peer-reviewed research shows that exposure to paraquat, particularly when sprayed within 500 meters of homes or workplaces, more than doubles a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s disease – a progressive, incurable neurological disorder that is on the rise.”
Organizations signing the letter include The Michael J. Fox Foundation, Environmental Working Group, Earthjustice, Natural Resources Defense Council, American Parkinson Disease Association, Parkinson’s Foundation, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Northeast Organic Farming Association of New York, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter and many others.
Paraquat has been banned in more than 70 countries, including China, where much of the herbicide is produced. Yet many of these countries successfully grow the very same crops that are being sprayed with paraquat in the U.S.
Lawmakers in at least a dozen other states are considering similar bans.
The coalition urged lawmakers to pass the Prohibit Paraquat Act, A10074/S9094, sponsored by Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal (D/WF-Assembly District 67) and state Senator Pete Harckham (D/WF-40th Senate district).
The bill would protect New Yorkers from this highly toxic chemical that’s already been banned in much of the world.
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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) 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.