OUTLOOK

04 November 2026

Researchers and advocates point to pollutants as a trigger for the neurodegenerative condition.

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Tammy Worth Tammy Worth is a freelance health-care reporter in Kansas City, Missouri.

In May, Vermont became the first US state to pass legislation that bans most uses of paraquat, a chemical herbicide linked to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. Other states have also examined paraquat’s safety. California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation studied the chemical in 2024, but chose not to ban it. However, in August, after persistent advocacy from farm workers and environmental groups, the state announced plans to phase out paraquat over a two-year period.

Nature 659 , S12-S13 (2026)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-03170-4

This article is part of Nature Outlook: Parkinson’s disease , a supplement produced with financial support from Aspen Neuroscience, Inc . Nature maintains full independence in all editorial decisions related to the content.…