What is Paraquat?

About Paraquat:

• Paraquat, or paraquat dichloride, is a toxic chemical that is used worldwide as an herbicide (plant killer), usually for weed and grass control.
• Paraquat’s origins date back to the 1880s, when it was first developed as a chemical dye. Its herbicidal properties were discovered in the 1950s.
• It is a synthetic (human-made) herbicide.
• It is also used as a desiccant, which dries out the crop before harvest. Paraquat is sometimes used as a plant growth regulator.
• It may induce or delay flowering. It has no residual activity in soil.
• Major Concerns:
  • It causes many health issues and human fatalities each year from accidental exposure and suicide.
  • It is known for its extreme toxicity and lack of a specific antidote.
  • When paraquat is ingested, it damages the lining of the mouth, stomach, and intestines upon contact.
  • It then spreads throughout the body, damaging organs, but primarily the lungs, liver, and kidneys.
  • More than 70% of paraquat self-poisonings result in death.
• Paraquat is banned in many countries.
• It is not yet banned nationwide in India. In India, Kerala became the first State to ban it in 2011.
• Other states which banned paraquat are Odisha, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.