WASHINGTON – The Vermont House on Friday took decisive action to protect public health, passing a bill that would ban the use and sale of the highly toxic herbicide paraquat in the state.
House Bill 739 would end Vermonters’ exposure to the chemical, an extremely dangerous weedkiller linked to serious health harms, including Parkinson’s disease. Despite this and other risks, it remains legal to use in the United States, even though more than 70 countries have banned it.
“This bipartisan vote sends a powerful message that Vermonters’ health comes first,” said Geoff Horsfield, legislative director at EWG.
“Paraquat is one of the most toxic pesticides still used in the U.S., and no one, including farmers, farmworkers, families or children, should be put at risk of exposure to a pesticide linked to Parkinson’s disease,” he said.
“If this bill becomes law in Vermont, it will prevent needless exposure to a chemical that has been linked to Parkinson’s,” said Horsfield.
The legislation now moves to the Senate, where lawmakers have an opportunity to build on the House’s leadership and make Vermont a national model for protecting people from toxic pesticides linked to Parkinson’s disease.
“We urge the Senate to act quickly to pass H.739 and send it to the governor’s desk,” Horsfield said. “Vermonters deserve nothing less than strong, commonsense protections from dangerous chemicals like paraquat.”
Momentum is building nationwide to phase out paraquat. At least a dozen other states are considering similar legislation to ban the herbicide, and California is considering new regulatory restrictions – clear signs of escalating concern over the chemical’s well-documented health risks.
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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.
