HEBRON, New York — A quiet farming community in upstate New York is at the center of a growing health crisis, as residents and agricultural workers demand a statewide ban on the herbicide paraquat, alleging its use has triggered a cluster of Parkinson’s disease cases. The chemical, long banned in more than 70 countries due to its acute toxicity, remains legal in the United States under strict federal regulations. But in Hebron, where fields of corn and soybeans stretch across the landscape, families say the risks have become impossible to ignore.
Gordon Chaplin, a 62-year-old farmer who has worked the land in Hebron for nearly four decades, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2024. His symptoms began with a subtle tremor in his left hand, followed by stiffness, balance issues, and a gradual loss of coordination—hallmarks of the degenerative neurological disorder. Chaplin, who frequently handled paraquat during his years of farming, is now one of at least a dozen residents in the area who have been diagnosed with the disease in the past five years. Many of them, like Chaplin, believe their exposure to the herbicide is no coincidence.
“You don’t think about it when you’re spraying it,” Chaplin said in a recent interview. “You’re just trying to get the job done. But now, looking back, it’s hard not to wonder if this is what did it to us.” His concerns are echoed by neighbors, local health advocates, and a growing coalition of farmers who argue that New York must follow the lead of the European Union, China, and dozens of other nations in banning the chemical outright.
What Happened
Paraquat, a fast-acting herbicide first introduced in the 1960s, is primarily used to control weeds and desiccate crops before harvest. It is classified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as “highly toxic,” with exposure linked to severe lung damage, kidney failure, and—in some studies—an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. The EPA has imposed strict safety measures for its use, including mandatory training for applicators, protective gear requirements, and restrictions on aerial spraying. Despite these precautions, critics argue the chemical remains dangerously accessible, particularly in rural farming communities where enforcement of safety protocols can be inconsistent.
In Hebron, a town of roughly 1,800 people in Washington County, the debate over paraquat has taken on a personal urgency. Local activists point to a seeming concentration of Parkinson’s cases among farmers, farmworkers, and even residents who lived near treated fields. While no official epidemiological study has confirmed a causal link, the anecdotal evidence has been enough to galvanize opposition. In June 2026, a group of affected families and advocacy organizations filed a formal petition with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), urging an immediate ban on paraquat sales and use within state borders.
The petition cites a 2023 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Neurology, which found that individuals exposed to paraquat had a 25% higher risk of developing Parkinson’s compared to those with no exposure. The study, which analyzed health data from more than 100,000 agricultural workers over two decades, added to a growing body of research suggesting a potential connection between the herbicide and neurodegenerative disease. However, the EPA has maintained that the evidence is not conclusive enough to justify a federal ban, arguing that existing regulations are sufficient to mitigate risks.
Why It Matters
The controversy in Hebron is more than a local health dispute—it reflects a broader tension over chemical regulation, corporate accountability, and the balance between agricultural productivity and public safety. Paraquat’s continued use in the U.S. stands in stark contrast to its prohibition in much of the world, raising questions about whether American regulators are prioritizing industry interests over precautionary principles.
For farmers like Chaplin, the stakes are existential. “We’re not asking for the moon here,” he said. “We’re asking for the same protections that people in Europe and Asia already have.” The push for a state-level ban has gained traction in Albany, where lawmakers are considering legislation that would phase out paraquat over the next three years. If passed, New York would become the first U.S. state to ban the chemical, setting a precedent that could influence other agricultural states, including Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska, where paraquat use is widespread.
The debate also underscores the challenges of regulating chemicals in an era of scientific uncertainty. Parkinson’s disease is a complex condition with multiple potential causes, including genetic predisposition, aging, and exposure to other environmental toxins. Proving that paraquat is a definitive trigger in any individual case is nearly impossible, which has allowed manufacturers like Syngenta—the primary producer of paraquat in the U.S.—to argue that bans are premature. The company has repeatedly stated that paraquat is safe when used as directed, pointing to EPA reviews that have reauthorized its use in recent years.
Yet critics counter that the EPA’s reliance on industry-funded studies and its history of slow responses to emerging health concerns have eroded public trust. In 2021, the agency faced legal challenges after environmental groups accused it of downplaying paraquat’s risks in its regulatory assessments. A federal court later ordered the EPA to reexamine its findings, but the agency has yet to issue a final determination on the herbicide’s safety.
Background and Context
Paraquat’s troubled history dates back to its introduction as a commercial herbicide in the 1960s. By the 1970s, reports of accidental poisonings—particularly in developing countries where the chemical was used without proper safety measures—prompted calls for stricter controls. In 1982, the EPA classified paraquat as a “restricted use” pesticide, limiting its application to certified professionals. Despite these restrictions, the chemical has remained a staple in American agriculture, particularly for weed control in crops like corn, soybeans, and cotton.
The global backlash against paraquat began in earnest in the early 2000s, as mounting epidemiological evidence linked it to Parkinson’s disease. In 2007, the European Union banned the chemical, citing concerns about its long-term health effects. China, once the world’s largest user of paraquat, followed suit in 2016, phasing out its production and sale. Today, paraquat is prohibited in more than 70 countries, including Brazil, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
In the U.S., however, paraquat’s use has only grown. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, paraquat applications increased by nearly 50% between 2013 and 2022, driven in part by the rise of herbicide-resistant weeds. The chemical’s effectiveness in killing weeds that have developed resistance to glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup) has made it a critical tool for many farmers, despite its risks.
The legal landscape surrounding paraquat has also evolved in recent years. Since 2017, more than 5,000 lawsuits have been filed against Syngenta and other manufacturers by individuals alleging that paraquat exposure caused their Parkinson’s disease. The cases, consolidated in a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Southern District of Illinois, have yielded mixed results. While some plaintiffs have secured settlements, others have seen their claims dismissed due to insufficient evidence linking their illness to paraquat. The litigation remains ongoing, with no definitive court ruling on the chemical’s causal role in Parkinson’s.
What to Watch Next
The outcome of New York’s legislative push to ban paraquat will be closely watched by both agricultural and public health advocates. The proposed bill, sponsored by State Senator Michelle Hinchey, would prohibit the sale and use of paraquat beginning in 2027, with a full phase-out by 2029. The legislation has drawn support from environmental groups, medical associations, and a coalition of farmers who argue that the risks outweigh the benefits. However, it faces stiff opposition from agricultural lobbying organizations, including the New York Farm Bureau, which has argued that a ban would place an undue burden on farmers already struggling with rising costs and labor shortages.
At the federal level, the EPA is expected to release an updated risk assessment on paraquat in early 2027. The agency’s findings could either reinforce the status quo or pave the way for stricter regulations—or even a nationwide ban. In the meantime, the Hebron community continues to press for action, with local health officials calling for a formal epidemiological study to investigate the alleged cluster of Parkinson’s cases.
For Gordon Chaplin and others like him, the fight is deeply personal. “I don’t know if a ban would have saved me,” he said. “But maybe it could save someone else.” As the debate over paraquat’s future intensifies, the question remains: How many more cases will it take before regulators act?
Conclusion
The struggle in Hebron is a microcosm of a larger global reckoning over chemical safety and corporate accountability. While the science linking paraquat to Parkinson’s disease remains contested, the human toll in farming communities is undeniable. The push for a statewide ban in New York represents more than just a regulatory battle—it is a test of whether precautionary principles can triumph over entrenched agricultural practices.
For now, the residents of Hebron wait, hoping that their voices will be heard before another generation of farmers faces the same fate. Whether New York will lead the way in banning paraquat—or whether the chemical will continue to haunt its fields—may well depend on how much weight policymakers give to the stories of those who believe they have already paid the price.
Sources:
– The Guardian: [Herbicide Paraquat Linked to Parkinson’s Disease in New York Farming Community](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/aug/05/herbicide-paraquat-new-york-parkinsons)
– JAMA Neurology: [Association of Paraquat Exposure With Risk of Parkinson Disease](https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaneurology/fullarticle/2805678)
– U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: [Paraquat Dichloride: Interim Registration Review Decision](https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/paraquat-dichloride-interim-registration-review-decision)
– U.S. Geological Survey: [Pesticide National Synthesis Project](https://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pnsp/)
– New York State Senate: [Bill S6456A – An Act to Amend the Environmental Conservation Law, in Relation to Prohibiting the Use of Paraquat](https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S6456)
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Story synopsis gathered from: Guardian International — source
