The poison without an antidote (Part 4)

What became of Gramoxone (paraquat), the herbicide that reigned as the world’s best-seller for decades, yet earned the grim nickname “the poison without an antidote”? Did it vanish from the market? Does it still linger despite everything? Let’s take a look.
 
Paraquat (1,1’-dimethyl-4,4’-bipyridylium) was first synthesized by the British multinational ICI in 1882, but its properties as a contact herbicide weren’t discovered until 1955. After years of testing to assess its usefulness and applications, it hit the market in 1961 under the brand name Gramoxone. Its formula contained 200 grams of paraquat per liter of water, later supplemented with an emetic to mitigate the risks of accidental or intentional ingestion. As previously noted, it was applied by spraying 200 to 600 cc per 100 liters of water.
 
For decades, it brought success to farmers worldwide, boosting crop yields and quality. But its dangers gradually tarnished its reputation. In 2007, the European Union, including Spain, banned it. In countries with looser regulations, like China, it remained on sale until 2011, when it too was prohibited. But was that the end everywhere? Are there still places where it’s available?
 
The answer is yes. Though banned in the United Kingdom, the European Union, and many other nations, the UK continues to manufacture and export it to countries where laws permit its use. Some experts argue that in those regions, the risks of paraquat are deemed preferable to the threat of famine. Its effectiveness has never been questioned, even if its safety leaves much to be desired.
 
This is the story of the herbicide that led the market for decades and became as familiar to farmers as a hoe or any other everyday farming tool.
 

An enthralling story of love, friendship and honor in the Olympic Games (2,600 years ago)
“Life debt”: https://a.co/d/hono34C