Paraquat Lawyer
Our lawyers represent clients nationwide in paraquat lawsuits against manufacturers who failed to warn about the herbicide’s link to Parkinson’s disease. A paraquat settlement can help you cover the costs of medical treatment related to your condition and lost wages.
Because of a scientific link to Parkinson’s disease, you may be able to pursue a paraquat lawsuit against Syngenta. If you worked or lived near an area exposed to this extremely toxic herbicide and have since developed Parkinson’s disease, contact our Paraquat lawyers as soon as possible. The window to pursue a claim may be limited.
What You Need to Know About Paraquat Lawsuits
There are significant credible scientific studies on paraquat’s link to several adverse effects. Most notably, researchers attribute exposure to the herbicide with an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease. A growing number of paraquat lawsuits against the manufacturers of the herbicide have already been filed. If you developed Parkinson’s disease after exposure, contact a qualified lawyer to discuss your legal options.
Common ways that a person may have been exposed to paraquat include the following:
- Farmers
- Farmworkers
- Herbicide applicators
- Chemical mixers
- Tank fillers
- People who live around farming communities
Get Help • Free Case Review
Contact a paraquat lawyer for a free case review. Our knowledgeable Herbicide Parkinson’s Disease lawyers will help you understand your legal rights and advocate vigorously for the compensation you deserve.
What is Paraquat?
Paraquat dichloride is highly toxic and commercially used to prevent weed and grass growth near farms and crops. Farmers, laborers and agricultural workers are most at risk for exposure. Because of its toxicity and link to adverse health effects, anyone who handles the herbicide is required to have a license. Because of the ongoing litigation concerning Roundup, Paraquat’s use as an herbicide on U.S. farms is expected to grow. As a result, future farmers will remain at a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
According to the Unified Parkinson’s Advocacy Council, the younger a person is when exposed to paraquat increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, anywhere from 200 to 600%.
Facts about Paraquat
Paraquat is a toxic chemical that is widely used as an herbicide, primarily for weed and grass control on farms. In the United States, paraquat is available primarily as a liquid in various strengths.
- Consistent scientific research studies link paraquat to the neurological disorder Parkinson’s disease.
- Exposure to paraquat within 1,600 feet increases the risk of Parkinson’s by 75%.
- The Unified Parkinson’s Advocacy Council urged the EPA to deny paraquat’s registration.
- Paraquat is only available in the U.S. for commercially licensed users who completed an EPA-approved training course.
- The CDC considers paraquat to be more toxic than other herbicides.
Paraquat’s toxicity
Paraquat made its first appearance as an herbicide in the 1960s. Even in those early days, it was clear that the substance was an extremely deadly and toxic chemical, raising alarms for many communities across the world. When ingested, the herbicide is extremely toxic to mammals—including humans. It has the potential to cause acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In addition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ingesting paraquat leads to failure in the liver, lung, heart and kidney up to 30 days after exposure. Further, in relation to Parkinson’s disease, recent scientific studies indicate:
- Paraquat increases the likelihood of an exposed person developing Parkinson’s disease.
- The long-term effects of paraquat on a person is dose-dependent.
- Combining paraquat with other factors such as genetic disposition or widely used farming chemicals such as the fungicide maneb or the insecticide rotenone, the risk for developing Parkinson’s is even greater.
In addition to developing Parkinson’s, chronic exposure through inhalation can also lead to lung damage, kidney failure, heart failure and esophageal strictures. Further, long-term exposure to Gramoxone may lead to lung and eye damage.
Does Gramoxone Cause Parkinson’s Disease?
Yes. The active ingredient in Gramoxone is paraquat. In 2011, a U.S. National Institutes of Health Study showed a strong link between paraquat and Parkinson’s. Workers who used the chemical are at a higher risk of developing the disease because Gramoxone destroys neurons needed to create dopamine—the chemical that controls movement, such as walking. These are the same neurons that suffer damage in patients with Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease is an incurable and debilitating progressive nervous system disorder. The characteristics of Parkinson’s includes tremors, slowness in movement, stiffness and difficulties with balance and walking. Further, it leads to a wide range of symptoms such as loss of smell, constipation, sleep disorders and depression.
Parkinson’s is linked to multiple causes, including the following environmental hazards:
- Air pollution
- Industrial solvents
- Pesticides
Over a 25 year period, the number of people living with Parkinson’s more than doubled from 2.6 million to 6.3 million. By 2040, experts expect that number to double again to at least 12.9 million.
Agricultural workers with Parkinson’s
Agricultural workers have the highest number of people diagnosed with Parkinson’s due to exposure to environmental toxins. In fact, research shows that pesticide applicators are twice as likely to suffer from Parkinson’s disease than the general public. If you applied this substance and developed Parkinson’s disease, our team of Paraquat Lawyers may be able to help. Call us to schedule your free consultation.
Can the general population be exposed to paraquat?
The degree of poisoning linked to Gramoxone depends on the amount, duration of exposure, route, and the person’s health at the time of exposure. Exposure to this highly toxic chemical herbicide usually comes from swallowing chemicals. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people can be exposed to paraquat in a variety of ways, including:
- Eating contaminated food or beverages.
- Exposure through substances such as marijuana, heroin or other drugs.
- Inhalation—particularly those who live near farmland.
- Through the skin. Paraquat poisoning is most likely to happen if exposure lasts for a long time, involves a concentrated version of paraquat, or through cuts and scabs.
If you or someone you know developed Parkinson’s disease after a career in farming or living near a farm, contact a Paraquat Lawyer.
What are the medical costs associated with Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement, often including tremors. On average, in the United States, a person with Parkinson’s disease spends an estimated $26,4000 per year on their health care. These medical bills can quickly add up for a person and leave them with significant medical debt. A paraquat lawsuit may provide a solution for those with a Parkinson’s disease diagnosis.
Where is Paraquat banned?
Several countries have banned or restricted the use of paraquat because of its adverse health effects. Oddly enough, while the chemical is manufactured in Switzerland, the country actually banned the product in 1989. Other countries where paraquat is banned include the following:
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Bulgaria
- China
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czechia
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
Many of the countries listed above are a part of the European Union which banned paraquat in 2007. The reasoning for the EU’s massive ban of the substance was on the grounds that paraquat was too dangerous for European farmers even when wearing protective equipment.
Where is paraquat most used in the United States?
While paraquat is banned in Europe, the herbicide is one of its biggest exports to the rest of the world. In 2018, the United States was the world’s largest importer of the chemical herbicide. As noted, Roundup lawsuits have led to an increase in the use of paraquat across the United States. In the United States, there is heavy use in farming communities—meaning millions of people may have been affected by the toxic herbicide.
Why is there a paraquat lawsuit?
There is a paraquat lawsuit because the herbicide’s manufacturers failed to warn users about the serious health risks associated with the herbicide—namely Parkinson’s disease. As a result, in October 2017, farmers and other agricultural workers filed a lawsuit against manufacturers Syngenta and Growmark.
Have there been other lawsuits against paraquat manufacturers?
Yes. For the last 50 years, plaintiffs have brought lawsuits against Syngenta, paraquat’s largest manufacturer. This includes a Parkinson’s disease class action filed in 2017 on behalf of farmers.
How can I file a lawsuit for Paraquat-related Parkinson’s Disease?
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with Parkinson’s after potential exposure to paraquat—either on the job or in your home if you live near a farm—the first step to filing a paraquat lawsuit is to call a lawyer at 800-359-5690 to start your free case review.
Who manufactures Gramoxone?
Syngenta is the largest company known for manufacturing paraquat. Syngenta has known since the 1970s that there was a link between the product and Parkinson’s disease. The solution to addressing the toxicity of the problem was simple; the company needed to dilute the formula. Rather than doing so and protecting consumers, Syngenta opted to overlook the damage to human life in favor of its own financial gain.
This blatant disregard for human life is why it is incredibly important to hold Syngenta and other paraquat manufacturers accountable. In fact, numerous companies manufacture paraquat under several brand names. In addition to Syngenta, paraquat manufacturers include the following companies:
- Adama Group
- Altitude Crop Innovations, LLC
- Chevron Chemical Company
- Drexel Chemical Company
- Helm Algro
- Innvictis Crop Care LLC
- Sinon USA, Inc.
- United Phosphorous
What are paraquat’s brand names?
Paraquat is most notably sold under the trade name Gramoxone. However, those who have worked on farms may know the highly toxic herbicide under one of the following names:
- AH 501
- Bai Cao Ku
- Blanco
- Bonedry
- Crisquat
- Cyclone SL 2.0
- Devour
- Dexuron
- Esgram
- Firestorm
- Gramixel
- Gramuron
- Helmquat 3SL
- Ortho Paraquat CL
- Para-col
- Para-Shot 3.0
- Parazone
- Pillarxone
- PP148
- Quick-Quat
- Tota-col
- Toxer Total
This is not an exhaustive list of products that contain paraquat.
If a doctor diagnosed you or someone you know with Parkinson’s disease, contact a qualified paraquat lawyer to hold the manufacturers accountable. We can help you get the compensation that negligent manufacturers owe you.
Paraquat in the news
On April 12, 2021, a U.S. District Judge in the Eastern District of Missouri denied a motion filed by Syngenta and co-defendant Chevron to dismiss a paraquat lawsuit brought by a Missouri couple. The lawsuit alleges that Henry Holyfield developed Parkinson’s disease due to his exposure to paraquat as a crop duster.
How a Paraquat Lawyer Can Help
The Carlson Law Firm is currently accepting clients who were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after using paraquat. We are accepting cases from all 50 states. If you or someone you love suffered injury by exposure to this toxic chemical, it is in your best interest to contact a Paraquat lawyer. The initial consultation with our mass torts team is free and confidential. Also, you won’t pay unless we win your case.
The Carlson Law Firm has a team of attorneys experienced in cases like these. A paraquat lawyer from our firm will tirelessly fight for justice. The use of this highly toxic chemical has negatively affected thousands of farmers, gardeners, and others in agricultural industries. If a doctor diagnosed you or a loved one with Parkison’s disease after using this product, you might have a case. We protect victims nationwide from negligent companies for their injuries. Contact our office for a free consultation.
Take a step toward protecting your family’s future and contact us today to determine if you are eligible for a paraquat lawsuit. In summary, when you need a compassionate attorney, The Carlson Law Firm is ready to take your call.
FAQ: Paraquat Lawsuit
In addition to a class-action lawsuit filed in St. Clair County, Illinois on behalf of farmers and agriculture industry workers, law firms across the country are signing clients to handle individual lawsuit claims.
The best way to determine your eligibility for a paraquat lawsuit is to speak to a member of our legal team. Our team of attorneys is available to help no matter where in the country you are located.
The paraquat lawsuit is a lawsuit against manufacturers who have sold the herbicide while knowing it causes Parkinson’s disease and a host of other health problems.
No. Because it only takes a small amount of exposure to paraquat to kill, using the substance in any capacity is dangerous.
Applicators spray paraquat on commercial crops such as soy, corn and cotton to remove unwanted weeds and grass.
Yes, science recognizes that extended exposure to paraquat causes extensive cell damage that reduces the function of certain neurons related to the body’s motor function.
Paraquat kills cells through a mechanism called oxidative stress. This process alters cell chemistry and leads to extensive cell damage and death. As noted above, Parkinson’s disease results from the loss of function in the dopamine neuron cells.
No, Roundup does not contain paraquat. The active ingredient in Roundup is glyphosate. While exposure to Roundup’s glyphosate leads to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, experts link paraquat to Parkinson’s disease.
Paraquat is classified as a non-selective contact herbicide. In other words, the herbicide has the potential to kill a wide range of organic matter, including plant life and animals, with just a few drops.
There is no treatment for paraquat poisoning.
Paraquat is without a doubt the world’s most dangerous herbicide. In fact, with one sip, paraquat can kill. Despite the United States’ refusal to ban the substance, it has been phased out or banned in more than 50 countries. Paraquat is responsible for at least 30 deaths over the last 30 years.
Paraquat causes significant damage to the body when it touches the lining of the mouth, stomach or intestines. In addition, if the substance enters the body through a small cut, this can also lead to considerable bodily damage.
