Internal Files Show Weedkiller Maker Kept Safety Data From US Regulators Amid Lawsuits

Internal company records revealed through US court litigation show that the manufacturer of the weedkiller paraquat withheld key safety data from the Environmental Protection Agency for years. Sweden raised alarms and called for a ban on paraquat in 2004, and dozens of other countries followed as health risks became clear. China halted domestic use of the pesticide ten years ago, and two US states, Vermont and California, have also banned it. Meanwhile, the US EPA continues to allow paraquat use on millions of acres.

Suppressed Data

Court documents submitted in a Pennsylvania state court lawsuit show that Syngenta failed to share critical information with the EPA regarding health risks, violating federal laws that require reporting unreasonable adverse effects. Unshared data included tests on how quickly paraquat penetrates clothing like cotton and Tyvek, how fast it absorbs into skin and the bloodstream, and how mixing the chemical with leaf-penetrating surfactants increases toxicity and brain risks. Syngenta denies keeping any relevant information from regulators and maintains that the unshared data was not pertinent to US oversight.

Litigation and Production Halt

Facing thousands of active lawsuits from people suffering from Parkinson's disease who claim exposure to the weedkiller caused their illness, Syngenta announced earlier this year that it will stop all global production of paraquat. The company previously paid at least 187 million dollars in a 2021 settlement and additional undisclosed sums for later settlements without admitting liability. Despite the mounting global bans and lawsuits, other suppliers continue selling paraquat in the United States while the EPA maintains there is no clear link between regular use of the chemical and Parkinson's disease or cancer.