<
https://theconversation.com/cheap-effective-and-dangerous-how-australian-farmers-came-to-depend-on-the-toxic-weedkiller-paraquat-285053>
"It is illegal to use paraquat in at least 74 jurisdictions worldwide,
including the European Union, China, Malaysia, Brazil and, most recently, the
US state of Vermont.
But today, Australia’s chemical regulator gave this effective but highly toxic
herbicide the green light.
After a nearly 30-year review, the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary
Medicines Authority (APVMA) finally decided paraquat can continue to be used on
Australian farms.
It will have to be used at reduced rates and can no longer be applied with
backpack sprayers, only in enclosed systems.
There’s no doubt paraquat is dangerous. It’s a Schedule 7 poison that is
acutely toxic to humans if touched, swallowed or inhaled. Farmers have to be
exceptionally careful in how they handle it.
Health advocacy groups and neurologists called for an outright ban on paraquat
over concerns longer-term exposure could be linked to Parkinson’s disease.
Why is Australia so dependent on this chemical? As our recent research shows,
the reasons are simple. Generic imported paraquat is cheap and effective, and
there are few alternatives given the way we currently farm. Ironically,
paraquat is largely imported from China, where its domestic use is banned."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
