An editorial published in the Rutland Herald commends Vermont lawmakers and Gov. Phil Scott for banning the pesticide paraquat. The weed killer, considered one of the most toxic herbicides in the U.S. and linked to Parkinson’s disease and other serious health issues, is banned in more than 70 countries, including China and the United Kingdom. Vermont is the first state in the nation to ban paraquat.

In testimony at the Vermont State House earlier this year, Larner Professor of Neurological Sciences James Boyd, M.D., M.S., a neurologist with UVM Medical Center, underscored that chronic exposure to paraquat can significantly increase a person’s risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

The editorial commends Vermont lawmakers and the governor for “seeing the value in keeping our citizens safe from chemicals” and states, “Any substance that is highly toxic to humans and wildlife should not be used widely. This was an easy decision and the right one for Vermont.”

Read full editorial at the Rutland Herald

This editorial also appeared in the Barre–Montpelier Times Argus.