Ignorance Is Bliss

Let’s begin with a story.

My dad was a proud member of Asbestos Local Union 25 until he retired — just like his older brother, my uncle and some cousins. His job involved wrapping pipes in asbestos “blankets” to keep heat from escaping hot water lines and to prevent condensation on cold ones. Most of his work took place at industrial sites like the Marathon Oil Refinery and the Enrico Fermi and Connors Creek power plants, though he also worked on smaller jobs in newly built hospitals and schools.

The job paid well and came with solid benefits, though layoffs hit hard whenever the economy took a downturn. But the real danger wasn’t financial — it was something much harder to see.

My dad often talked about the dangers of working with asbestos. He believed companies like Johns Manville — who made the materials — knew the health risks, including the link to lung cancer, but kept it quiet. He was right. Years later, court cases revealed that companies like Johns Manville had known for decades that asbestos exposure could cause serious illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. But they chose profits over people.

There’s a Word for That
I recently came across a term that puts a name to the tactic used by the asbestos industry. It’s not “cover-up” or “conspiracy” — though those certainly come to mind. The word is agnotology.

Never heard of it? Neither had I. Coined in 1995 by Robert Proctor, a science historian at Stanford, agnotology is the study of deliberate ignorance — specifically, the spread of misinformation or doubt to serve a purpose, like protecting profits or preserving power. Proctor introduced the term while researching how the tobacco industry buried the health dangers of smoking.

Agnotology isn’t just an academic concept. It’s played out in real life — again and again: tobacco, asbestos, coal… and now, paraquat.

Paraquat and Parkinson’s
Paraquat is a powerful herbicide that’s been widely used in U.S. agriculture since the 1960s. Sold under brand names like Gramoxone, it’s prized for its ability to clear fields of weeds before planting. But while it’s effective, paraquat is also highly toxic — even small amounts can be fatal if inhaled or ingested.

Over the years, evidence has grown linking paraquat exposure to Parkinson’s disease — the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world. This evidence comes from multiple sources: lab studies, animal research, and large-scale human studies. A major epidemiological report published last year added even more weight to the connection.

And yes, there’s growing evidence that Syngenta, the manufacturer of paraquat, has known about this link for years — and kept it quiet.
Sound familiar?

Enter the EPA
Despite the mounting evidence of harm, paraquat is still legal in the U.S. It’s banned in over 70 countries — including the European Union, the United Kingdom, and even China, where it’s produced. But here, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reviews pesticides just once every 15 years and had planned to release an updated risk assessment in January 2025.

Now, the EPA says it needs more time and data to fully evaluate paraquat’s risks. The revised analysis won’t be ready for at least four more years. In the meantime, the agency is withdrawing a 2021 interim decision that had imposed limited restrictions on its use, such as limits on aerial spraying and requirements for protective gear.

As the EPA kicks the can down the road, farmworkers and others exposed to paraquat who were later diagnosed with Parkinson’s are suing. A major trial is scheduled for June 2025 in Philadelphia, and some experts are already predicting a massive pre-trial settlement.

Same Old Story
Agnotology isn’t just a word — it’s a pattern. And once you recognize it, you’ll start to see it everywhere. The calculated silence. The buried studies. The delayed safety reviews. The people in charge claiming they “didn’t know” — when they very much did.

As long as there are profits to protect, there will be more cases of agnotology. Paraquat may be today’s example, but it won’t be the last.

Stay curious. Stay skeptical. Because ignorance, as it turns out, is rarely bliss — and sometimes, it’s deadly.

Happy reading,

Suzanne Daniels

Enjoy the weekend!

Best,
Suzanne
Suzanne Daniels, Ph.D.
AEPC President
P.O. Box 1416
Birmingham, MI 48012
Office: (248) 792-2187
Email: [email protected]