This rule was remanded by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the limits are not currently in force.
Paraquat refers to a group of compounds that are odorless, yellow solids.
The toxicity of these compounds depends on the compound's cationic moiety. When the diameter of the particles in the aerosol are not of respirable size, toxicity is greatly reduced. Bouletreau, Ducluzeau, Bui-Xuan et al. The Agency concludes that this limit will protect workers from the significant risk of skin, eye, and pulmonary irritation observed in animals exposed to aerosols of respirable size at levels below OSHA's former PEL for paraquat. The Agency considers the irritant effects of paraquat to be material impairments of health.