Farm workers and paraquat

What is paraquat, and who may use it?

EPA says paraquat is a common weed killer in the United States. Farms use it to kill weeds and dry crops like cotton before harvest. Only trained, certified people may use it. Helpers who work under them may not.

It is often sold as Gramoxone. There are no home uses.

Anyone who mixes, loads or applies it must be certified and must take EPA-approved paraquat training.

Is paraquat still allowed?

Yes. As of October 6, 2026, paraquat is still sold for use in the United States. EPA checks each pesticide again on a 15-year cycle, and its review of paraquat is not finished.

In July 2021, EPA set new limits. It set a 48-hour stay-out time for treated fields, and 7 days when paraquat is used to dry out cotton. Check the product label for its rules.

In November 2025, EPA said it is less sure than before about how much paraquat can rise into the air as a gas. In June 2026, EPA posted a notice asking paraquat makers for more data. EPA says it will update its review once it gets that data.

What paraquat exposure risks do farm workers face?

Farm workers who are not certified may not spray paraquat. EPA found possible risks to people who mix, load or apply it, and to people who enter treated fields after spraying. It also found possible risks from spray drift to people at the edge of a field.

Some outdoor spray methods have a no-entry zone of 25 or 100 feet around the spray equipment. Employers must keep workers out of it. The sprayer must pause if someone is inside who is not a trained handler with the right gear helping with the spray.

Paraquat is highly toxic, and one small sip can be fatal, EPA says. If paraquat gets on you or in you, EPA says to get medical help right away.

Who is covered by the federal farm worker safety rule?

EPA's farm worker safety rule covers two groups. It covers farms, forests, nurseries and greenhouses. Workers grow and harvest plants. Handlers mix, load or spray pesticides, or clean the spray gear.

Owners and their immediate family on family-owned farms are exempt from many of its parts. That exemption is for the owner's family, not for hired workers.

Which spray records must a farm keep, and how do I ask for them?

When the rule applies, the farm must post and keep a record for each pesticide it uses. It must list the safety data sheet, product name, EPA number and active ingredients. It must also show the crop or site, where it was sprayed, the start and end dates and times, and the stay-out time. The farm must keep it for two years after that stay-out time ends.

The record duty applies when workers or handlers are on the farm and a pesticide was used, or a stay-out time was in effect, within the last 30 days.

If you worked there while the record had to be posted or kept, you can ask for a copy, out loud or in writing. The farm must give it to you within 15 days. If you or your helper already got a free copy, the farm may charge fair search and copying costs for more copies.

Someone can ask for you. Their written request must give your name, the records and dates wanted, your work dates and the kind of work you did. It must include a note you signed and dated, with your printed name, that names them and gives their contact details. Add where to send the records if you want them sent. The farm must respond within 15 days.

A health care worker treating you, or someone working under them, can also ask for records from when you worked there. The farm must provide them promptly to help with your care.

Farms must keep a record of your pesticide safety training for two years and give you a copy if you ask.

USDA removed its separate spray record rule in July 2025. That was a different rule from the farm worker record rule above.

What does research say about paraquat and Parkinson's disease?

EPA says many studies have looked at paraquat and Parkinson's disease. It says they vary in quality and give conflicting results. EPA has not found a clear link from paraquat used as the label directs.

EPA notes that a 2020 update of the Agricultural Health Study reported no link. That update did not repeat a 2011 finding from the same study that suggested a link may exist.

Our Parkinson's disease guide explains its signs, how doctors diagnose it, and which records show it.

The paraquat lawsuits make claims, not findings. A lawyer can look at your records and tell you if you may have a claim.