FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Paraquat is too dangerous to use and too dangerous to transport
A paraquat spill in the Dorris area of Siskiyou County yesterday forced residents to shelter in place for hours, underscoring the serious and immediate dangers posed by one of the most toxic pesticides the California Department of Pesticide Regulation still allows for use in the state. The shelter-in-place order covered portions of Dorris that included residential neighborhoods as well as Dorris Elementary School and Butte Valley High School. According to news reports, after a 120-gallon drum of paraquat fell off a truck, cars driving in the area then spread the toxic chemical through downtown Dorris. Approximately 600 people were included within the shelter-in-place borders.
The shelter-in-place order warned residents to close windows and doors, turn off ventilation systems, and avoid outdoor exposure due to the risk of airborne contamination during a record-setting heat wave. Highway 97 was also closed as emergency responders worked to contain the spill.
Paraquat, commonly sold as Gramoxone, is an extremely hazardous herbicide that can be fatal if inhaled or ingested—even in small amounts. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has emphasized its acute toxicity, warning that even a single sip can kill. Paraquat exposure has been linked to Parkinson’s disease and thyroid cancer.
Despite its well-documented dangers, paraquat remains widely used in California and across the United States, even though 72 countries—including China, Brazil, Vietnam and the European Union—have already banned it. A recent report and story map Designed to Kill: Who Profits From Paraquat? by CPR Steering Committee member Pesticide Action & Agroecology Network, with Alianza Nacional de Campesinas and Coming Clean, exposes how use of this highly toxic pesticide has been allowed to continue in the United States due to corporate profits and influence.
Paraquat is among the most heavily used pesticides in California. According to DPR’s most recent Pesticide Use Report, 369,978 pounds of paraquat were applied to 338,975 acres in 2023. The largest applications take place in Central Valley counties that already face some of the highest pollution burdens in the state. Counties with considerable paraquat use in 2023 included:
– Kings County, which had the highest paraquat use, with 188,732 pounds applied and 172,614 acres treated.
– Kern: 38,994 pounds applied and 29,680 acres treated
– Fresno: 35,202 pounds applied and 35,279 acres treated
– Stanislaus: 13,566 pounds applied and 12,556 acres treated
– Merced: 11,055 pounds applied and 11,838 acres treated
– Tulare: 8,602 pounds applied and 7,709 acres treated
In comparison, in Siskiyou, 5,684 pounds of paraquat were applied, with 6,962 treated acres. The Siskiyou County spill highlights how quickly paraquat exposure can become a public health emergency. The need for residents to remain indoors and shut down ventilation, including cooling systems during a heat wave, reflects the potential for airborne exposure and raises serious concerns for vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant individuals, and those with existing health conditions.
Communities should not have to shut themselves indoors to avoid exposure to a pesticide this dangerous. The incident is a stark reminder that paraquat poses real and immediate risks to farmworkers and entire communities.
Under California law, the Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) is required to protect human health and the environment, including by eliminating pesticides that pose unacceptable risks. Californians for Pesticide Reform urges DPR to take immediate steps to suspend paraquat and begin cancellation proceedings. No community should face the kind of emergency that took place in Siskiyou County. The recent spill is a clear reminder: paraquat poses unacceptable risks to Californians and should be banned.
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Californians for Pesticide Reform (CPR) is a diverse, statewide coalition of 200+ member groups working to strengthen pesticide policies in California to protect public health and the environment. Member groups include public and children’s health advocates, clean air and water groups, health practitioners, environmental justice groups, labor, education, farmers and sustainable agriculture advocates from across the state.