"New data is adding to regulatory concerns about potential human health risks from the weed killer paraquat, leading the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to seek more information from manufacturers of the pesticide.
The EPA last week publicly released an updated review of paraquat that incorporates a new study pertaining to potential “post-application inhalation exposures” to people that could result from the volatilization of paraquat from treated farm fields.
The EPA’s Health Effects Division (HED) said in the new report that after reviewing the fresh data, HED determined that “there is greater uncertainty regarding the potential for paraquat to volatilize than previously considered.”
Paraquat is a highly toxic weed killer commonly used by farmers to wipe out weeds in fields before crops are planted, for drying out crops before harvest, and for killing weeds in pastures and non-agricultural areas. Even a tiny amount, if ingested, can quickly kill a person, so the pesticide is restricted to licensed applicators."
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