Vermont becomes the first US state to ban paraquat, enacting a prohibition after mounting concern that exposure raises the risk of Parkinson's disease.The Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing paraquat's safety, Syngenta says it will cease global production while defending the chemical, and paraquat is already prohibited in the EU, the UK, China and several other countries.Farmers such as
Greg Burtt warn of higher costs and competitiveness risks, the law provides a multi‑year transition until 2030 for some fruit growers, and advocates including
Dan Feehan of the
Michael J. Fox Foundation say other states could follow.