Recently, published scientific studies have shown a strong link between exposure to paraquat and a heightened risk of Parkinson's disease.

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If you or a loved one has been exposed to paraquat and subsequently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, you may be able to bring a claim against the paraquat manufacturers for their failure to warn against the dangers of their product. Contact us today!

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Banned Nearly Everywhere Except the U.S.

Paraquat is principally produced by the Swiss manufacturer Syngenta, although ironically Switzerland banned the chemical in 1989. Thirty-two other countries have outlawed it, and large economies like the EU, China, and Brazil are also phasing out its use or have banned it altogether to protect their farmers and citizens.

The United States has only tried to prevent poisoning by paraquat consumption, measures that do not address the long-term dangers – like Parkinson's disease – associated with daily exposure to the chemical.

If you or a loved one used paraquat and were subsequently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, you may be entitled to participate in civil actions initiated in courts throughout the U.S. The damages these lawsuits seek include compensation for Parkinson's disease medications, care and treatment, other medical expenses, pain and suffering, and past and future wage loss.

Paraquat is Highly Toxic

Herbicides like Roundup have been connected to health risks, cancers, and various diseases in recent years. Paraquat, however, is considered "the deadliest pesticide on the market." If consumed, the toxin quickly disperses throughout the body, causing chemical reactions in the lungs, liver, kidneys, and elsewhere. In fact, just one sip is fatal 70 percent of the time.

Because of its risk of death, the form of paraquat marketed in the U.S. has a blue dye additive and a strong odor to keep it from being confused with a beverage.

Products Containing Paraquat

Paraquat is sold in the U.S. under several brand names, including:

  • Paraquat Concentrate® (common)
  • Gramoxone® (common)
  • Ortho-Paraquat
  • Blanco®
  • Cyclone SL 2.0®
  • Firestorm®
  • Helmquat 3SL®
  • Bonedry®
  • Devour®
  • Para-Shot 3.0®
Paraquat Parkinson’s Lawsuit

Who Uses Paraquat?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated paraquat as a "restricted use" pesticide. This means individuals who mix or apply it must have a restricted use pesticide applicator license and special training. Most people working with paraquat in our country are farmers.

Paraquat is most frequently applied to corn, cotton, soybeans, alfalfa crops, and in fruit orchards and grape vineyards.

Public data indicates paraquat is more commonly used in the following states:

Alabama

Arkansas

California

Florida

Georgia

Kansas

Kentucky

Illinois

Indiana

Missouri

North Carolina

South Carolina

Tennessee

Texas

Paraquat Parkinson’s Lawsuit

What Is Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. When these nerve cells are damaged, the body starts to exhibit uncontrolled or limited movement.

Scientists believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors causes Parkinson's disease. Genetics accounts for 10 to 15 percent of all Parkinson's cases. Environmental risk factors, including traumatic brain injury, exposure to Trichloroethylene and Polychlorinated Biphenyls, and exposure to pesticides and herbicides are also known causes of Parkinson’s.

The disease often starts with a tremor in one hand, mainly at rest. Other symptoms include slow movement, stiffness, and loss of balance. Symptoms generally develop gradually over the years, however, the progression of symptoms often differs from person to person.

Along with movement-related ("motor") symptoms, people may be affected more dramatically by "non-motor" symptoms like:

  • Apathy
  • Depression
  • Constipation
  • Sleep behavior disorders
  • Loss of sense of smell
  • Cognitive impairment

Over time, both motor and non-motor symptoms worsen, making the normal activities of daily living harder to manage.

More than 200,000 cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Currently, there are between 750,000 and 1,000,000 Americans with Parkinson's disease and 10,000,000 people worldwide.

Although men and women can both develop the disease, it affects men 50 percent more than women.

PARKINSON'S DISEASE AFFECTS MEN

%
more than women

No cure exists but dopaminergic medications can help manage it. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ratings, Parkinson'

Evidence Linking Parkinson's Disease to Paraquat Exposure

Data connecting Parkinson's disease to paraquat exposure is convincing:

In 2009, the American Journal of Epidemiology published research concluding that any exposure to paraquat within 1,600 feet of a home resulted in a heightened Parkinson's disease risk of 75 percent.

In 2011, the National Institute of Health conducted a study – the Farming and Movement Evaluation (FAME) – using data from an Agricultural Health Study to show that paraquat users developed Parkinson's disease approximately 2.5 times more frequently than others.

The FAME findings were supported by a 2014 study on Environmental Toxins and Parkinson's disease, which found participants who had sprayed paraquat were twice as likely to develop Parkinson's disease than the general population.

A 2018 study published in the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology found people exposed to paraquat have a roughly 250-percent higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease than the rest of the population.

Paraquat Parkinson’s Lawsuit

The Dangers of Paraquat

Efforts have been made by the New York Times to highlight the dangers and public health costs of paraquat. Federal legislation has also been introduced in Congress that, if passed, would end all paraquat sales and use in the country.

The Parkinson's Foundation and the Unified Parkinson's Advocacy Council signed two letters to the EPA encouraging the agency to cancel its registration of paraquat based on strong scientific research linking the herbicide to Parkinson's disease. Nevertheless, in October 2020, the EPA re-approved paraquat for use in the U.S. with some mitigation measures. Without additional action, paraquat will remain legal for sale and use in the U.S. for the next 15 years.

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