Is Paraquat Banned In The US
- Upd: February 15, 2026
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Sarah Miller
- Fact Checked By Our Attorneys
Paraquat is banned in many countries due to its high toxicity, yet it is still legal in the United States under strict federal controls. Farmers, applicators, and nearby residents continue to face serious risks from paraquat exposure, including poisoning, lung damage, and long term neurological harm. The Environmental Protection Agency regulates its use, but concerns remain because even small amounts of paraquat ingestion can cause severe injury. Many people want to know why the U.S. has not moved to ban paraquat and what rights they have if they were exposed
If you or a loved one were harmed by paraquat exposure, you can speak with Legal Claim Assistant to check your legal options and get a free case review.
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Key Takeaways:
- Paraquat remains legal in the U.S. as a restricted-use herbicide, despite bans in the European Union and many other countries, and is linked to serious health risks including Parkinson’s disease.
- Exposure can occur through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact, and even small amounts of this moderately toxic chemical can cause severe organ damage and long-term neurological effects.
- Legal claims depend on documented exposure, regulatory compliance, and proof of harm; restricted status affects eligibility, settlement amounts, and strategies in MDL and other lawsuits.
- Legal Claim Assistant connects victims of paraquat exposure with experienced attorneys, offering free, confidential case reviews and guidance on pursuing compensation for health damages.
What Is Paraquat?
Paraquat is a highly toxic herbicide, also known as paraquat dichloride or methyl viologen first developed by Imperial Chemical Industries, widely used for control of weed in agriculture and landscaping. It acts by inhibiting photosynthesis, quickly killing plants on contact. This makes it effective for killing weeds in large fields. Farmers often use paraquat products for cotton desiccation, crop field management, and other agricultural practices and in some cases for control of weed near golf courses.
Despite its effectiveness, paraquat continues to pose serious health risks because even small exposure through ingestion, skin contact, or inhalation can be dangerous. The chemical is classified as moderately to toxic, and the Environmental Agency enforces regulations requiring certified pesticide applicators and trained users to handle it safely.
You can also learn about Paraquat Lawsuit.
What Are the Health Risks of Paraquat
Exposure to paraquat, for people exposed in agricultural or residential areas can cause severe acute and chronic effect of health. Accidental ingestion, skin contact, or inhalation may lead to vomiting, respiratory failure, kidney failure, and liver failure. Chronic exposure is linked to developing Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders, with overwhelming scientific evidence including findings from National Institute research and findings the EPA found during its review supporting these risks.
Lungs, liver, and kidneys are the organs most affected, and even residential area drift can pose unacceptable risks. Paraquat poisoning is documented by numerous studies, including Parkinson’s research from the Fox Foundation and environmental working groups. Alternatives exist, but paraquat remains widely used in U.S. agricultural communities. Paraquat formulations often have a sharp smell that helps identify spills or unsafe handling.
What Alternatives Exist for Paraquat?
Farmers and landscapers have several options to reduce reliance on paraquat while maintaining effective weed control. other pesticides and herbicide options and chemical alternatives are available, but many have lower toxicity and safer application profiles. Organic methods, such as crop rotation, mulching, and manual weed removal, provide mechanical alternatives that avoid pesticide exposure.
Using integrated pest management techniques, trained certified applicators can limit human health risks while controlling weeds. Adjusting backpack sprayer application methods, maintaining residential area drift buffers, and following federal insecticide regulations help reduce paraquat’s unreasonable risks. Switching to safer herbicides or combining organic and chemical approaches can protect both farm workers and surrounding communities.
Paraquat Restrictions in the United States
Paraquat remains legal in the U.S., but its use is heavily regulated to protect public health. It is not allowed for domestic use and is limited to certified commercial applications. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency enforces paraquat acts and pesticide regulation rules, under federal laws including the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, requiring only licensed applicators and commercially certified users to handle this toxic chemical. Training requirements, safety measures, and personal protective equipment are mandatory to prevent poisoning and paraquat damages.
Some states, including California and Hawaii, have stricter restrictions or are considering bans due to overwhelming evidence of risks to health, including links to Parkinson’s disease and other serious health effects. Farmers and landscapers must follow chemical review committee guidelines, use approved application methods for each area treated, and explore safer alternatives to limit human and environmental harm.
Why the U.S. Has Not Fully Banned Paraquat
Although the herbicide paraquat is extremely toxic one sip can be fatal the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to allow its controlled use in U.S. agriculture. Paraquat products remain classified as Restricted Use Pesticides, meaning only licensed, certified applicators or commercially licensed users may handle and apply them.
Part of the reason the U.S. has not followed the example of the European Union and European Communities, many countries that banned paraquat decades ago lies in regulatory decisions and agricultural demand.
The EPA in 2021 issued an interim decision that added stronger safety measures including restrictions on human flaggers during application such as requiring enclosed cabs or respirators during application, extending Restricted‑Entry Intervals for treated crops, and limiting certain application methods instead of opting for a full ban.
Yet despite these measures, critics argue the EPA ignored mounting scientific evidence including systematic reviews on neurological risks linking paraquat exposure to serious long‑term harms, especially neurodegenerative diseases. Advocacy groups note that many other countries banned paraquat in part because it is a “one of the most widely used herbicides” whose toxic effects, including associations with Parkinson’s disease, cancer, and organ damage, outweigh its utility as a weed killer. Several countries also banned paraquat due to its association with a higher suicide rate linked to intentional ingestion.
“Knowing if Paraquat is banned in the U.S. helps protect health, ensures safety, and raises awareness about its risks.”
How Paraquat Status Impacts Lawsuits
Paraquat’s status as a restricted, but not banned, chemical deeply affects legal claims alleging harm. Because the chemical remains legal under regulation, manufacturers and chemical companies often argue they complied with all label requirements and regulatory approvals, complicating liability. Plaintiffs usually must show not only exposure and injury for example Parkinson’s disease or organ damage but also that safety protocols, warnings or controls failed or that misuse, drift, or negligence occurred.
That regulatory context can influence settlement amounts and eligibility. For victims exposed under risky conditions such as farmworkers, mixers, or people living near treated fields claims may emphasize that although paraquat is tightly regulated, real‑world use of paraquat often deviated from safe practices. Because the chemical is moderately to toxic, and because peer‑reviewed epidemiology and toxicology literature (including studies referenced in paraquat’s background) link exposure to serious risks, such arguments strengthen causation and negligence claims.
In class‑action or In re Paraquat Products Liability Litigation (MDL) cases, paraquat’s legal status shapes both general‑causation (can exposure of paraquat cause Parkinson’s or other diseases) and specific‑causation (did exposure to paraquat in this case cause the plaintiff’s condition). Where paraquat remains approved and commonly used, courts often scrutinize scientific evidence and regulatory compliance more heavily.
Common Questions About Paraquat Ban
Are Paraquat and Roundup the same thing?
No. Paraquat and Roundup are different other herbicides. Paraquat is a highly toxic weed killer, often used for disease control in crops, while Roundup contains glyphosate and has a different mode of action. Both are among the most commonly used herbicides, but only paraquat is classified as toxic and a vomiting agent.
What pesticides are banned in the U.S.?
Several pesticides have been banned due to effects, including DDT, chlorpyrifos for certain uses, and others linked to childhood leukemia or environmental damage. Paraquat is not banned but is a restricted-use pesticide regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection to protect human health and biological diversity.
Is Paraquat restricted use?
Yes. use of paraquat is restricted to commercially licensed users and certified applicators. The EPA mandates strict safety rules, including protective gear, buffer zones, and proper handling methods to reduce exposure. Improper use or exposure can lead to serious risks associated with paraquat, including organ damage and Parkinson’s disease.
Has anyone survived Paraquat poisoning?
Survival is rare but possible with immediate medical intervention. Paraquat poisoning can occur through ingestion, skin contact, or inhalation. It acts as a toxic chemical, damaging lungs, kidneys, and the liver, and is associated with vomiting, blue dye marking in industrial formulations, and long-term neurological effects such as Parkinson’s disease.
How Legal Claim Assistant Can Help
If you or a loved one were exposed to paraquat, Legal Claim Assistant offers a free, confidential case review. We connect you with attorneys experienced in paraquat lawsuits and toxic chemical claims, including cases related to Parkinson’s disease and other effects of health associated with paraquat.
Legal Claim Assistant guides you through next steps, helping gather evidence of paraquat use, exposure circumstances, and medical documentation to pursue compensation. Our attorneys understand the complexities of cases involving widely used herbicides, restricted chemicals, and the harmful effects linked to paraquat cation, ensuring you have support from qualified legal professionals.
If you were exposed to paraquat and suffered effects of health, contact Legal Claim Assistant today for a free case review and take the first step toward getting the compensation you deserve.
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