YES on the Paraquat Prevention Act to Prevent Parkinson's & Protect Farmworkers

I am writing to urge your support for H.R. 9357, the Paraquat Prevention Act. This bipartisan legislation, which already has support from both sides of the aisle, would cancel all registered uses of paraquat, a toxic herbicide that poses serious health risks to farmworkers and the general public. Paraquat has been linked to numerous severe health effects supported by extensive scientific evidence. The most alarming finding is the strong association between paraquat exposure and Parkinson's disease. A 2013 meta-analysis found that exposure to paraquat roughly doubles the risk of developing this debilitating neurodegenerative disease. Recent research from 2022 and 2023 decisively demonstrated that paraquat stimulates oxidative stress and is associated with Parkinson's disease. The World Health Organization has recommended banning paraquat as a measure to prevent Parkinson's disease. Agricultural workers face the greatest risk due to direct occupational exposure through inhalation, skin contact, and contaminated surfaces. Since paraquat came to market in 1962, it has been responsible for the deaths of thousands of farmworkers globally. Acute poisoning can cause fatal organ damage to the heart, kidneys, liver, and lungs within hours to days. Chronic exposure, even at low levels, leads to serious respiratory, kidney, and liver damage. Many countries have already taken action based on this evidence. South Korea, Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, China, and Switzerland have successfully eliminated paraquat without harming agricultural productivity by switching to alternative herbicides. The multidistrict litigation involving over 5,700 cases against paraquat manufacturers demonstrates the scale of harm this chemical has caused. I strongly encourage you to support H.R. 9357 specifically, and also to advocate for its inclusion in the upcoming Farm Bill. Including this protection in the Farm Bill would ensure that American farmworkers are shielded from this preventable danger while maintaining agricultural productivity through alternative herbicides already available and proven effective.