Health, Safety & Environment Division

The question here has the focus and legal debate over the safety of glyphosate potentially pushed agricultural workers to increase their reliance on Paraquat? A recent ABC news report suggests that  there is evidence suggesting the Paraquat is a significant factor in developing Parkinson Disease particularly in rural communities.  Could Paraquat be the next Glyphosate? 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/programs/landline/2024-09-01/after-the-harvest:-concerns-over-links-between-a/104296830

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Lisa Stevens
Principal OHS Consultant
Lisa J Stevens And Associates
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If the choice was between Glyphosate and Paraquat - then I'd choose glyphosate every time.

Paraquat is significantly more toxic and, given that there is no treatment for paraquat if acute exposure occurs, it appears to be an unreasonable risk. The question isn't so much "Is Paraquat the next Glyphosate?" but rather why, given that the toxiicity of paraquat is so well established, that it hasn't been pulled from the market already.

By comparrison glyphosate is innocuous.

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Bruce Heath
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