Bangladesh and India Ban Toxic Pesticide Paraquat to Enhance Suicide Prevention and Brain Health

Bangladesh and India have implemented national bans on paraquat, a highly toxic agricultural pesticide, in a move aimed at boosting suicide prevention efforts and protecting brain health. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that this historic public health decision aligns with over 70 other countries that have prohibited paraquat due to its severe toxicity and links to suicide, Parkinson's disease, and occupational safety risks for farmers. Globally, an estimated one in five suicides are attributed to the ingestion of acutely toxic pesticides. Long-term exposure to such chemicals has also been associated with neurological risks in agricultural workers and neurodevelopmental disorders in children.