Why in News?
The highly toxic herbicide Paraquat is prominently in the news following a decisive Government Order (GO) officially issued on June 13, 2026, by the Telangana government. The state has imposed an absolute ban on the sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of Paraquat to safeguard farmers and prevent accidental or intentional deaths.
About
- Chemical Profile: It is a highly potent, fast-acting, synthetic non-selective contact herbicide (weed killer).
- Mechanism of Action: It kills all green plant tissue it touches by directly destroying cell structures on impact. It has zero residual chemical activity in the soil.
- Agricultural Utility: Heavily utilized by smallholder farmers across roughly 80 lakh acres of Indian farmland for rapid field clearing and as a pre-harvest drying agent (desiccant) due to its highly economical pricing (₹280 per litre).
Severe Health & Toxicological Concerns
- No Known Antidote: Paraquat has no specific antidote; even a single accidental sip can cause irreversible organ failure and painful death.
- Organ Destruction: If ingested or absorbed heavily through the skin, it selectively accumulates in human lung cells, causing progressive lung fibrosis, kidney shutdown, and acute liver failure.
- Neurological Risks: Decades of medical research compiled by institutions like the Michael J. Fox Foundation strongly link chronic low-dose Paraquat exposure to the onset of Parkinson's disease.
- Suicidal Misuse Burden: Due to its uncontrolled over-the-counter availability in rural areas, it has historically been a primary chemical used in accidental ingestions and self-harm incidents.
Global and Indian Regulatory Landscape
- The Global 74-Nation Ban: The chemical is legally banned in 74 countries, including the United Kingdom, China, and the European Union.
- The United States Stance: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) restricts its use strictly to licensed, certified applicators, though 13 US states are actively pushing independent bills to ban it in 2026.
- The Indian Gridlock: While it is not banned nationwide by India's central Insecticides Board (CIBRC), independent states are utilizing regional police and agricultural powers to block its entry. Kerala was the pioneer state to enforce restrictions in 2011.
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