WASHINGTON – On Tuesday, members of the House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee in the Pennsylvania state legislature held a hearing on several bills to address the use of toxic food chemicals and pesticides that can cause health harms in people.
EWG Senior Vice President Scott Faber testified in support of the suite of bills known as the Healthy PA Package, including HB 1135 that would ban the use of the toxic weedkiller paraquat in the state over its links to Parkinson’s disease among other health risks.
Below is Mr. Faber’s testimony is support of that measure:
I want to add my voice to those who are urging you to ban paraquat, which has been linked to Parksinson’s Disease, and other health harms, including cancer, from someone who teaches pesticide law.
First, paraquat has been banned in more than 70 countries, including China, Brazil, the European Union, Canada, and Turkey. Almost 80% of the world’s apples are grown in countries where paraquat has been banned.
Second, paraquat is made in China but is so toxic that the Chinese government prohibits its use by Chinese farmers. Instead, the Chinese state-owned company that makes paraquat sells it to our farmers.
Third, parquat makes up only 1% of all the pesticide sprayed in Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania’s farmers have plenty of options to control weeds, including many chemical alternatives.
I hope you will choose the ban paraquat. No one who feeds us should have to get Parkinson’s Disease.
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The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.
