California bans paraquat, highly toxic herbicide outlawed in more than 70 countries

California is banning paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide controversial for its use on American cropland. Public health advocates characterize it as a deadly substance virtually proven to cause Parkinson's disease, and it is already banned in over 70 countries, including China, the UK, and the EU. Despite this, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reapproved paraquat for use in the US in 2021 and 2024.