Despite being banned in 32 countries, paraquat is one of the most widely used herbicides in the United States. Yet many studies, including one as recent as 2017, show that paraquat exposure increases risk of Parkinson’s disease. We believe the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should join other countries in banning the use of this herbicide.

Parkinson’s is a chronic, degenerative neurological disease that impacts nearly 1 million Americans. Currently, there is no treatment to slow, stop or reverse the progression of Parkinson’s, nor is there a cure.

Every 15 years, the EPA reviews all herbicides to confirm they comply with federal safety standards, and paraquat is currently under review. That’s why your signature is so important today.

The Unified Parkinson’s Advocacy Council, led by The Michael J. Fox Foundation, educates lawmakers on the causes of Parkinson’s and advocates for public policy changes that support patients and families. Last year, the Council sent a letter to the EPA outlining paraquat’s health risks and asking for it to be banned in the United States.

Introduced in the 1960s, paraquat kills most green plant tissue on contact and is often used as an alternative for weeds resistant to glyphosate, the herbicide commonly known as “Roundup.” There are other means of pest-control that farmers can use to obtain an adequate yield without increasing Parkinson’s risk.

Please sign our petition asking the EPA Administrator to protect Americans and prohibit the use of paraquat.