Toxic weed killer linked to Parkinson’s, leukemia and lymphoma
By Sari Huhtala
Eating grocery store produce like strawberries, grapes, citrus, broccoli, cauliflower, pears and garlic? If it’s non-organic and comes from California or other parts of the U.S., it’s likely sprayed with a “highly toxic herbicide” that is linked to Parkinson’s, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and childhood leukemia, according to scientific studies dating back to 2009.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit, non-partisan organization that researches, educates and advocates safe consumer products, is sponsoring a bill to ban the use of paraquat in California after mounting clear evidence it “poses a serious risk to human health and the environment,” according to an EWG news release.
A 2018 review in the Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health – Paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis – found a “significant association between paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s.
A 2009 study by the National Institutes of Health, published in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health, found a strong link between the herbicide and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Syngenta, previously Swiss-based and now China-owned, the leading manufacturer of the herbicide has been concealing safety data for years, according to EWG initiative, The New Lede.
Paraquat is widely used across the U.S., largely for preparing fields for planting vegetables, fruits, corn, soybeans, almonds, corn and other crops. Between 2017 and 2021 5.3 million pounds of paraquat were sprayed in California.
Canada is among 68 countries that have now banned the use of the herbicide, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues to allow its use. The EPA reviewed its safe use as a pesticide, then reapproved it in 2023 for another 15 years. Every year more than 10 million pounds of paraquat is used for crops in the U.S., including crops like grapes, pears, garlic, citrus fruits, almonds and artichokes, according to the EWG.
About one third of the one billion pounds of pesticides used every year in the U.S. include 85 pesticides banned by the EU, China and Brazil.
Atrazine, another herbicide which is banned in 44 countries, but not Canada, has been found to be linked to cancer and endocrine disruption, according to the EWG.
York University Food Policy for Canada determined 84 per cent of Canada’s broccoli and cauliflower, 76 per cent of fresh strawberries and 68 per cent of lettuce comes from California and Arizona, where paraquat is still legal. Canada also relies heavily on California and Arizona for spinach, celery and cabbage.
The takeaway? Grown your own grub whenever possible, go organic or use discernment when shopping for produce in local grocery stores.
Sari Huhtala is the creator, publisher and editor of Alive and Fit Magazine, which was created in 2007. She has over 25 years of experience in journalism and over 15 years of experience as a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor, and is a holistic chef, offering holistic cooking and edible wilds workshops. She is an organic farmer, wild-crafter and grandmother, who has spent over 20 years navigating a holistic, healthy path for her family. Reach her at friends@thelaughingforest.ca
Photo credit: © vcgcorbis via Canva.com
