Prohibits the use of the pesticide paraquat

• Democratic28

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Pete Harckham says this is needed

According to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide, is used in 28 counties across the state, with trends showing a decrease in use. More than 70 countries have banned the use of paraquat, including major agricultural-producing nations like China, Brazil, the European Union, and Turkey. Although ChemChina, which owns paraquat maker Syngenta, is a Chinese state enter- prise, paraquat cannot be used in China. Similarly, although Syngenta's headquarters are in Switzerland, paraquat cannot be used in Switzerland. And although paraquat is manufactured in the United Kingdom, paraquat cannot be used legally in the UK. The evidence linking paraquat to Parkinson's disease is clear. Studies show that working in fields or living near fields where paraquat has been sprayed significantly increases the chances of developing Parkinson's disease. People who live or work near fields where paraquat has been sprayed could be twice as likely to develop Parkinson's disease. A study using data from the NIH found people who sprayed para- quat were more than twice as likely to develop Parkinson's disease as those who applied other pesticides. A 2025 study found that people living near golf courses, where paraquat could be used prior to 2021, were more likely to develop Parkinson's disease. Paraquat has also been linked to other health harms, such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, forms of kidney cancer, thyroid cancer, and other thyroid issues. In rural areas, exposure to paraquat during pregnancy may increase the risk of leukemia. Paraquat remains in the soil for many years and can be re-suspended in dust. Banning the use of paraquat in New York State will protect farm- ers, farmworkers, and rural residents.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.