Syngenta hid paraquat risks from EPA, records show

Internal records reveal Syngenta may have withheld critical data regarding paraquat's absorption and toxicity from the US EPA. This occurred while dozens of countries banned the chemical due to health concerns, including links to Parkinson's disease. The US, however, continued to approve paraquat's use on millions of acres, with the EPA downplaying scientific findings.

These documents, revealed through litigation, suggest Syngenta fought to maintain its US market share as global bans mounted. The company allegedly failed to share analyses on how quickly paraquat could permeate clothing and absorb into skin, as well as information on increased toxicity when mixed with surfactants.

Syngenta denies deliberately withholding information, stating it has always complied with EPA requirements and that the data in question was not relevant or would not have changed regulatory views. The company has since announced a global halt to paraquat production, citing market factors, not liability.

Critics argue this situation highlights the EPA's systemic weaknesses, prioritizing corporate profits over public health. The agency maintains it has based its assessments on an extensive database and requests any new information to ensure its reviews are thorough.