Paraquat Parkinson’s Disease Attorneys
Although banned or restricted in more than 30 countries, toxic weed killer Paraquat, sold under trade names such as Gramoxone, Ortho-Paraquat, Para-SHOT, Parazone, Quick-Quat, Firestorm, and Helmquat, remains one of the most popular commercial herbicides in the United States. Concerns about the product’s safety have persisted for years – including that direct exposure to the toxic chemical can cause neurological damage and may cause Parkinson’s Disease.
Farmers and agricultural workers have start filing lawsuits in courts around the country alleging Paraquat’s manufacturer, Syngenta Group, failed to warn them about the life-altering neurological effects Paraquat caused.
Paraquat and Parkinson’s
Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive brain disease that causes limb stiffness and tremors, balance and coordination problems, and other symptoms that get worse over time. It is believed that only 1 in 10 cases of Parkinson’s Disease is caused by genetics.
According to a December 2016 study, researchers found that exposure to Paraquat may lead to Parkinson’s Disease. Another study found that a person’s risk for Parkinson’s Disease increases by 200-600% depending on what age their exposure first began.
Additionally, a 2009 study in the America Journal of Epidemiology found that any exposure to Paraquat within 1,600 feet of their home increased their risk of Parkinson’s Disease by 75%. Another study in 2011 found that farmers using Paraquat are 2.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s Disease.
In 2017, the Unified Parkinson’s Advocacy Council sent a five-page letter to the Pesticide Re-Evaluation Division of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the link of the disease to Paraquat. The letter cited scientific studies that found “Paraquat increases the likelihood of an exposed person developing Parkinson’s disease.” The organization recommended the EPA more strongly restrict and scrutinize the herbicide product due to its significant neurotoxicity.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease
Exposure to Paraquat can cause severe health effects with some studies finding “significant associations” with Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s Disease is an irreversible neurological disorder. Symptoms become worse over time, impairing movement and the disease can cause non-movement symptoms such as incontinence, soft or slurred speech, dementia, and mental impairments that can reach the point of psychosis as the disease progresses. Common Parkinson’s Disease symptoms include, but are not limited to:
- Hand tremors
- Stiffness
- Loss of balance and/or difficulty moving and walking
- Trouble speaking
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
Paraquat Lawsuits and Filing Criteria
The link between Paraquat and Parkinson’s Disease may have been known to manufacturers for years, but it was never publicly disclosed. This means that companies who manufactured and sold Paraquat can be held liable for selling a dangerous product without proper warnings. Individuals who used or were exposed to Paraquat and subsequently diagnosed with Parkinson’s may be entitled to significant financial compensation.
The first Paraquat Parkinson’s disease lawsuit was filed in Missouri in 2017 against Syngenta, the Swiss-headquartered, Chinese-owned agrochemical company that now makes the drug, and Growmark. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit included farm owners and agricultural laborers who either applied Paraquat or worked on farms where Paraquat was used and later developed Parkinson’s Disease. Several other similar Paraquat weedkiller lawsuits have been filed in other states since then.
To qualify to participate in a Paraquat lawsuit, you must prove exposure to Paraquat in a setting such as:
- Working on a farm
- Applying herbicide
- Chemical mixer or tank filler
- Living around a farming community
- Medical diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease or a related neurological condition
Paraquat Lawsuit Attorney Gregory McEwen and his team have been representing injured people and holding negligent manufacturers responsible for three decades. If you or a loved one has been exposed to Paraquat and has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, you may be entitled to compensation. Please call us at (800) 732-3070 for a free and 100% hassle free consultation. We will investigate your claim free of charge and only get paid if you win.
US Drug Lawsuit is a Paraquat Lawsuit Attorney that specializes in Product Liability. We represent farmers and agricultural workers that have contracted Parkinson’s disease from Paraquat herbicide/pesticide and are part of the class action suit.