November 8, 2026

@michaelokun

Paraquat, Parkinson’s, and a Critical Moment for Prevention in Australia. A powerful new article in The Guardian highlights Australia’s controversial decision to continue allowing the use of paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide banned in more than 70 countries. The story of Greg Smith, a 73-year-old farmer diagnosed with Parkinson’s after years of agricultural chemical exposure, reminds us that behind every regulatory decision are real people and families. I reviewed the Australian pesticides authority’s decision, and what concerns me most is the potential failure to adequately account for decades of scientific evidence linking paraquat exposure to increased Parkinson’s risk. Some studies have reported more than twice the odds of developing Parkinson’s among exposed individuals. Association does not prove causation, but neither should scientific uncertainty become an excuse for inaction. Farmers need effective tools to grow our food, but we must invest in safer pesticides, safer agricultural practices, and better protections for agricultural workers and communities. As I told the Australian Senate inquiry, “In medicine, we do not wait for every uncertainty to disappear before acting to prevent serious harm.” With Parkinson’s cases increasing worldwide, prevention must become a priority, and we must ask whether the pesticides we use today are worth the neurological risks we may face tomorrow. Read the full article: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/31/paraquat-david-pocock-senate-inquiry-australia-weedkiller-ntwnfb