Meta Description: Is Paraquat banned in the US? If you’re currently seeking the answer to this question, let this article help you. We have the answer!
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Alt: Is Paraquat Banned in the US? Here is the Answer
Is Paraquat banned in the US? The answer to this question is no. Although dozens of countries have banned the use of Paraquat due to its risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, the United States still allows the use of this herbicide on residential and commercial agricultural land.
So, what are the reasons why the United States still allows the use of Paraquat? Therefore, keep reading!
What is Paraquat?
In general, Paraquat is a chemical that has been used as a herbicide or weed killer. The use of Paraquat in residential and commercial agriculture has been going on for more than 60 years. Over 60 years of use, Paraquat has become an effective and affordable weed killer.
In the United States, Paraquat is generally available in liquid form with varying strengths. One thing is for sure, Paraquat is formulated from powerful chemicals, making it highly effective for controlling weeds and grasses in people’s yards and the farmlands of American farmers.
In addition, due to its highly toxic nature, the packaging of Paraquat available in the US market has a blue coloring. This is done so that this herbicide is not confused with other beverages such as coffee. Paraquat packaging also has a strong odor as a warning and additives that cause vomiting if consumed.
Apart from Paraquat, there are dozens of other frequently used weedkiller brands, such as Blanco, Helmquat, Parazon, Devour, Firestorm, Gramaxone, Para-SHOT, and Quik-Quat. There is also one brand of herbicide that quickly surpassed Paraquat in popularity when it first hit the market in 1974, which is Roundup.
However, despite its many competitors, Paraquat still sells well in the market. Since its first production in 1961, Paraquat has been one of the most commonly used herbicide drugs by people all over the world. Unfortunately, in recent years, this herbicide drug has been rumored to cause Parkinson’s disease.
States in the US that Use Paraquat
Agriculture is one of the major industries in the United States. Therefore, it is not surprising that Paraquat is widely used in the United States. So, which states use Paraquat to eradicate weeds and grass? Here is the list
- Arkansas
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Vermont
On top of this, the majority of US states are known to use large amounts of paraquat to destroy various types of weeds and grass in their yards and farmlands. To date, there are approximately 10,000,000 pounds of Paraquat used in the United States each year.
Typically, farmers in the United States use large amounts of this herbicide on over 100 crops. These crops include peanuts, soybeans, cotton, corn, oranges, wheat, almonds, sweet potatoes, grapes, artichokes, and strawberries.
Immediate Signs and Symptoms of Paraquat Exposure
Generally, after you have been exposed to Paraquat, you may feel pain and swelling in the mouth and throat. The next signs of illness are gastrointestinal symptoms, like nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In addition, severe gastrointestinal symptoms may lead to dehydration, electrolyte abnormalities, and low blood pressure.
In addition, there are several health effects you can suffer when exposed to Paraquat depending on the intensity of exposure. For small exposure to Paraquat, you may notice the development of health effects within a few weeks which include heart failure, kidney failure, liver failure, and scarring in the lungs.
While for high-intensity Paraquat exposure, there are several signs and symptoms that you may feel within a few hours to a few days. The symptoms include:
- Acute Renal Failure
- Confusion
- Coma
- Rapid heartbeat
- Injury to the heart
- Liver failure
- Scarring in the lungs that develops more quickly
- Muscle weakness
- Pulmonary edema or fluid in the lungs
- Respiratory failure that may lead to death
- Convulsions
Is Paraquat Banned in the US?
The ban on the use of Paraquat began in 2007. This year, European Union countries banned the use of this herbicide brand after the publication of research that stated a close link between Paraquat and the potential for Parkinson’s disease. The ban was also related to the toxicity of Paraquat on the human body.
Currently, 24 countries have banned or restricted the use of Paraquat due to its impact on the environment and human health. Although there are already dozens of countries that ban Paraquat, the United States still allows the use of this brand of herbicide. This fact answers the question “Is Paraquat banned in the US?”.
However, the United States, through the decision of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), continues to ignore the potential link between Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease. Even today, this herbicide drug is still approved for use in yards and farms in the United States.
Although still approved for use, in October 2020, the EPA proposed new safety measures regarding the use of Paraquat. In this new safety regulation, the EPA stated that Paraquat should not be used by just anyone. Instead, Paraquat must be used by commercially licensed users.
Environmental Protection Agency Review of Paraquat
Besides wondering “Is Paraquat banned in the US?”, you may also want to learn the reason behind it. In 2019, the EPA stated that the link between Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease still lacks strong evidence. Therefore, the use of this brand of herbicide is still allowed in the US.
Then in 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency also conducted another thorough review of Paraquat. As a result, the EPA noted that there was insufficient evidence to link Paraquat to any of the investigated health effects when used following its labeling, including Parkinson’s disease.
Has the Question, Is Paraquat Banned in the US, Been Answered?
So, do you already know the answer to this question? In conclusion, the use of herbicide products under the brand name Paraquat is still allowed in the US. This condition applies on the premise that there is insufficient evidence to prove the association of Paraquat with the development of Parkinson’s disease.
Even though 24 other countries have banned the product, the Environmental Protection Agency proves that the product does not harm anyone. Still, you must be careful because this herbicide contains many ingredients. Therefore, use the product wisely to get the benefits of this herbicide.
