Vermont nears first-in-the-nation paraquat ban as Parkinson’s case gains attention

By AI, Created 3:45 PM UTC, May 24, 2026, /AGP/ – Vermont lawmakers have passed a bill to ban paraquat, a herbicide linked in studies to Parkinson’s disease, and the measure now awaits Governor Phil Scott’s action by May 26. The push comes as Mike Mooney, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at 49 after years of herbicide work, raises national questions about whether exposure could have been prevented.

Why it matters: - Vermont could become the first state in the U.S. to ban paraquat if Governor Phil Scott signs H.739, vetoes it, or lets it become law without his signature by May 26. - Paraquat remains legal in the U.S. even as more than 70 countries, including China and members of the European Union, have banned it over health and environmental concerns. - The debate has taken on new urgency because multiple studies have linked long-term paraquat exposure to Parkinson’s disease.

What happened: - Vermont lawmakers passed bipartisan legislation, H.739, on May 13, 2026, to prohibit paraquat use statewide. - Mike Mooney, a former landscaping and grounds worker, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at age 49 after years of spraying herbicides. - Mooney and his family are speaking publicly as Vermont’s ban effort draws national attention and similar bills move in other states.

The details: - Mooney says he had no known family history of Parkinson’s disease and no known genetic predisposition. - Mooney spent years handling herbicides during landscaping work in high school and college. - Mooney now writes The Impatient Patient for Parkinson’s News Today and advocates for Parkinson’s awareness, research and prevention. - Marcy Mooney, Mike Mooney’s wife and an elementary school principal, says the diagnosis changed the family’s outlook overnight. - Research cited by the National Institutes of Health found paraquat users were about 2.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. - In 2024, a manufacturer-funded study submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency found paraquat could volatilize and travel through the air for miles under certain conditions. - Public health advocates and researchers say that finding raised concerns about exposure beyond farmworkers and chemical applicators. - Some studies have also examined possible links between paraquat exposure and several cancers and other serious health conditions. - Roughly 10 million pounds of paraquat are applied annually in American agriculture.

Between the lines: - Vermont’s action reflects a broader shift from farm-only concerns to community-wide exposure questions. - The Mooney family’s public campaign is turning an abstract chemical-safety issue into a personal Parkinson’s story. - New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and other states are advancing similar legislation, signaling growing political pressure on regulators. - In New York, Assembly bill A.10074A has advanced to the floor calendar, while Senate bill S.9094A remains in committee.

What’s next: - Governor Phil Scott has until May 26 to act on the Vermont bill. - If Vermont enacts the measure, lawmakers in other states are likely to face renewed pressure to move their own paraquat bans. - Mooney says he is sharing his experience to help other families avoid similar uncertainty. - More information on the public discussion around Parkinson’s and environmental exposure is available through advocates and researchers involved in the issue.