Bangladesh and India Ban Highly Toxic Pesticide Paraquat for Suicide Prevention and Brain Health

In a significant public health decision, Bangladesh and India have declared national bans on paraquat, a highly toxic agricultural pesticide. This action, which aligns with over 70 other countries, aims to prevent suicides, as easy access to lethal means like paraquat is a major factor in impulsive suicidal acts. Long-term exposure to such pesticides has also been linked to neurological risks for agricultural workers and neurodevelopmental disorders in children.