Dear John,
Cancer causing glyphosate. Brain-damaging chlorpyrifos. Bee-killing neonics. These toxic pesticides are devasting our health, our environment, and our pollinators.
Now, the use of another toxic pesticide, paraquat, is on the rise. Just one sip of paraquat can be deadly.
Despite its quick and poisonous effects, the EPA has dragged its feet on regulating paraquat. But there is good news -- Representative Velazquez just introduced a bill in Congress, the Protect Against Paraquat Act, which would ban paraquat for all uses. Your help is essential to passing this bill, John!
Help save people from toxic pesticides: Tell your Representative to co-sponsor the Protect Against Paraquat Act!
Paraquat is the most acutely toxic herbicide in the U.S. The EPA concluded that “one small sip can be fatal and there is no antidote.” Further, exposure to paraquat more than doubles the risk of developing Parkinson’s. Plus, it is linked to kidney, organ and heart failure, eye damage, and cancer.
Beyond its direct poisoning of people, paraquat also lingers in the environment. It has a detrimental impact on soil, water, and wildlife. Studies show that large fish, amphibians, and rabbits have died after exposure to paraquat.
Paraquat is already banned for household use in the U.S. and it's banned in 32 countries. But it's still used in agriculture in the U.S. to grow our food. In fact, paraquat use has increased by 84 percent in the past 10 years due to mismanagement of herbicide-resistant weeds. This is particularly concerning for farmworkers who may be exposed to this toxic chemical on a daily basis.
We need bold, direct legislation like the Protect Against Paraquat Act to protect farmworkers and the environment. But you can be sure pesticide giants like Syngenta -- a leading manufacturer of paraquat -- will lobby hard to stop this bill. So, legislators need to hear from concerned constituents like you to counter their message. Will you make your voice heard?
Take Action NOW: Tell your Representative to ban poisonous pesticides today!
Rampant overuse of toxic pesticides is driving a devastating decline in biodiversity and wildlife. It’s contaminating our food, poisoning farmworkers, and polluting our environment. But Trump’s EPA refuses to protect everyday people like you and me from this chemical.
We need to stop the use of this toxic pesticide before it kills more people and continues to inflict irreversible damage on our environment.
Congress must take bold action by passing the Protect Against Paraquat Act to protect farmers, fish, birds, and our entire ecosystem. But legislators will only act if they hear from constituents like you.
Tell your Representatives to protect human lives and cosponsor the Protect Against Paraquat Act!
Standing with you,
Anna Kustar,
Food and technology team,
Friends of the Earth
