More than 53,000 people have signed the petition
of ConsumerAffairsJoe Biden may be a lame duck but he is much sought-after in his final days in office, as pleas for last-minute actions grow. Among them: a petition signed by more than 53,000 people urging Biden to ban the use ofparaquat, a highly toxic weedkiller that has been linked to Parkinsons disease.
The petition was circulated through a partnership between the Environmental Working Group and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons 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 Bidens Environmental Protection Agency banthe weedkiller, to protect farmworkers, their families and those who live and work in communities where it is sprayed.
Despite mounting evidence of paraquats dangers, the EPA continues to permitits widespread use, in direct contrast to the actions of the more than 70 countries that have already banned the chemical, the petitioners argue.
Reviewed & reassessed
Since paraquats first registration, EPA has reviewed and reassessed its safety and uses, the agency said. As part of a review, EPA has required "mitigation measures" to reduce risks associated with paraquat, also called Gramoxone.
On its website, the EPA notes that paraquat is only licensed for use by trained applicators and there are no homeowner versions.It is used for control of weeds in agricultural applications.
The agency warns that anyone who comes in contact with paraquat should seek immediate medical assistance. "Ingestion of paraquat can be fatal, and dermal or eye contact can have serious lasting effects," the agency notes.
Farmworkers at risk
Those most exposed to the chemical are farm workers, notesErica Lomeli Corcoran, CEO of the UFW Foundation.
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," she said. "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."
Photo Credit: Consumer Affairs News Department Images
Posted: 2025-01-03 22:35:29
