California Paraquat Spill Underscores Urgent Need for Nationwide Ban
March 18, 2026 | Source: EWG
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Environmental Working Group today renewed its call for a total ban on paraquat following a dangerous spill of the herbicide in Siskiyou County, Calif.
The incident triggered shelter-in-place orders and exposed hundreds of residents to one of the most toxic crop chemicals still used in the U.S.
According to news reports, a large container of paraquat fell from a truck in the northern California town Dorris, spilling roughly 60 gallons of the chemical onto a major roadway and into the surrounding community.
Citing the risk of exposure to airborne paraquat releases, officials ordered a lockdown affecting about 600 residents, including those at a local elementary school.
“This incident is a stark reminder that paraquat is simply too dangerous to be used anywhere near where people live, work or go to school,” said Geoff Horsfield, legislative director at EWG.