Paraquat weed killer remains legal despite health concerns

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority has declined to ban paraquat, a toxic weed killer chemical linked to Parkinson's disease, despite it being prohibited in more than 70 countries. The authority's final review introduced restrictions and reduced maximum usage amounts, but rejected calls from scientists and advocacy groups for a complete ban. Parkinson's Australia disputes the finding that paraquat does not increase Parkinson's disease risk, citing concerns about accidental ingestion risks and questioning enforcement of protective equipment requirements.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.