health
The herbicide haunting a New York farm town
Paraquat is banned in over 70 countries. Some farmers and their families in Hebron believe the pesticide is causing Parkinson’s disease and are demanding that New York ban it
TL;DR
- Gordon Chaplin, an 81-year-old farmer, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which he and his wife, Sarah Teale, believe is linked to paraquat sprayed on their land by a tenant farmer.
- Teale identified "Parkinson's Valley," a seven-mile stretch in Hebron, NY, with a high incidence of the disease, suggesting a common environmental cause.
- Paraquat is banned in over 70 countries and is facing increased scrutiny in the US, with 14 states introducing bills to restrict or ban its use.
- Scientific studies dating back to the late 1990s have linked paraquat exposure to Parkinson's disease, with recent research indicating a doubled risk for those living or working near sprayed areas.
- Syngenta, a major paraquat producer, acknowledges sympathy for Parkinson's sufferers but rejects claims that its product causes the disease, citing its own studies and research from other governments.
- Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against Syngenta alleging failure to warn about health risks, with the company setting aside significant funds for settlement costs.
- Despite Syngenta's announced discontinuation of paraquat production by the end of June, citing competition, concerns remain about generic versions and the lack of a federal ban.
- Residents in Hebron, like Sharon Giambatista, who grew up exposed to pesticides while picking strawberries, have also been diagnosed with Parkinson's and attribute it to local chemical exposure.