It reads as a tragic story of vanity gone bust. Socialite, Issabella Blow reportedly killed herself with half a pint of Paraquat in May 2007 just under three months before it was withdrawn from use in the UK.
What is even more distressing is the ease in which Blow obtained the chemical in the first place.
A professional gardener (who was born after December 1964) would have to be in possession of a PA1 & PA6 competence certificate to apply herbicides, yet a member of the public can buy and apply similar chemicals without any paperwork at all.
Having a certificate does not preclude anyone from making mistakes or being reckless but it does mean that there is recourse if they are found to be negligent.
I am not saying that this suicide would have been prevented if Blow was unable to buy the weed killer because it seems she was intent on taking here own life. But, I am certain that if licensing is applicable to a trained professional then it should be so to anyone if they wish to apply chemicals.
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