Lead

A new study has found that workers exposed to pesticides could have up to a 70 per cent greater risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal motor neurone disease. Researchers report that global rates of ALS have increased alongside the use of pesticides, as pressures on food systems grow. The study, published in the BMJ, found that men who have been exposed to pesticides at work may be twice as likely to develop the disease as those with no exposure, while no apparent increase in risk was observed for women.

The findings come amid regulatory changes in Australia concerning the herbicide paraquat, a chemical that has previously been linked to Parkinson's disease. Australia's chemical regulator has introduced new restrictions on its use, and major manufacturer Syngenta has announced it will stop selling paraquat in the country.

Coverage Comparison

The Study on Pesticide Exposure and ALS

ABC Australia reported that the study's authors reviewed data relating to ALS and concluded that occupational exposure to pesticides may increase the risk of the disease. The report noted that while the causes of ALS are not well understood, the results "add to the evidence suggesting that occupational exposure to pesticides may increase the risk of ALS." The publication highlighted that farming industries such as grains and horticulture rely heavily on synthetic pesticides, including paraquat and glyphosate, which have been subject to scrutiny in recent decades.

Syngenta's Exit from the Paraquat Market

Both ABC Australia and The Guardian covered Syngenta's decision to end sales of paraquat in Australia. ABC Australia reported that Syngenta ANZ said its decision to exit the paraquat market in Australia and New Zealand came after the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) imposed new limits and conditions on how the chemical can be used. The Guardian added that the product is banned in more than 70 countries and has been prohibited in the European Union since 2007.

Both outlets quoted Syngenta ANZ managing director David Van Ryswyk, who said that "regulatory constraints, combined with a highly complex and increasingly expensive supply chain, have made the paraquat herbicide products commercially unviable."

Key Claims

  • Workers exposed to pesticides could have up to a 70 per cent greater risk of developing ALS, according to a study reported by ABC Australia.
  • Global rates of ALS have increased along with the use of pesticides, as reported by ABC Australia.
  • Men exposed to pesticides at work may be twice as likely to develop ALS as those with no exposure, per the study covered by ABC Australia.
  • Australia's chemical regulator, the APVMA, introduced new restrictions on paraquat use, as reported by both ABC Australia and The Guardian.
  • Paraquat has previously been linked to Parkinson's disease, according to both outlets.
  • Syngenta is ending sales of paraquat in Australia, a decision reported by both ABC Australia and The Guardian.
  • The APVMA introduced new limits and conditions on paraquat use, a fact carried by both outlets.
  • Paraquat is used to control weeds in a range of crops, as noted by both ABC Australia and The Guardian.
  • Generic versions of the herbicide will continue to be sold in Australia, according to ABC Australia.
  • Paraquat is banned in more than 70 countries, as reported by The Guardian.

Perspectives

Syngenta

The company said its decision to exit the paraquat market in Australia and New Zealand followed the APVMA's limit changes and its own commercial review. David Van Ryswyk, managing director of Syngenta ANZ, described the products as "commercially unviable" due to regulatory constraints and an expensive supply chain, adding that dedicating resources to "unprofitable legacy products is no longer sustainable."

Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA)

The APVMA introduced new restrictions on paraquat use, addressing acute exposure and risks to animals. According to The Guardian, the authority assessed that the weight of evidence does not show that paraquat exposure through approved uses increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, but it did impose measures such as phasing out backpack sprayers, mandating additional personal protective equipment, and setting a lower maximum application rate per hectare.

Grain Producers Australia (GPA)

Western Victorian farmer and GPA spokesman Andrew Weidemann expressed uncertainty over Syngenta's exit, saying the company had been "the stable foundation of this market for decades." He noted that while many other paraquat chemicals are available, most come from China.