Did a Common Weed Killer Cause Parkinson's? The Paraquat Story - AI Podcast
Story at-a-glance
- Syngenta agreed to settle thousands of lawsuits filed by farmers diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after paraquat exposure, signaling growing public outrage over decades of corporate cover-ups
- Paraquat increases the risk of Parkinson’s disease by about 2.5 times and damages mitochondria, leading to progressive movement disorders and irreversible brain degeneration according to NIH research
- The EPA is delaying decisive action on paraquat regulation despite mounting evidence of severe health risks, allowing paraquat to remain on the market for at least four more years
- Despite following safety guidelines, many farmers still developed Parkinson’s, highlighting how protective equipment and labeling failed to shield them from paraquat’s dangers
- Protect yourself from paraquat and other toxic chemicals by checking local pesticide use, installing air and water filters, eating antioxidant-rich foods, supporting organic farming, and thoroughly cleaning anything exposed to agricultural chemicals
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