Paraquat is a highly poisonous herbicide that, if ingested, is extremely dangerous. Since 1964, Paraquat has been commercially utilized in the United States. The health hazards linked to Paraquat, notably the risk of Parkinson’s disease due to exposure, have prompted 32 countries to outlaw the chemical within their borders.
The Paraquat lawsuit is continuing to expand at an increasing rate. The number of claims pending in the Paraquat class action lawsuit has now reached 1,153. In the first week of May 2022, 57 new Paraquat Parkinson’s disease cases were filed into the Illinois Paraquat MDL (multidistrict litigation).
Despite the strong evidence linking Paraquat to incredibly toxic complications for humans, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has maintained paraquat is a legal chemical restricted for commercially licensed users.
Is Paraquat toxic?
Yes, paraquat is indeed toxic. According to the EPA, if you drink one sip of Paraquat, it has a 70% chance of killing you.
If you survive short-term exposure to it, then what else might paraquat do? Well, Parkinson’s disease has been linked to frequent occupational exposure to Paraquat over the last decade.
Is Paraquat still being used on American crops?
Yes, it is. Paraquat is still being used in America and is commonly sold as Gramoxone, Parazone, Para-Shot, and Quick-Quat among other lesser-known brand names. It is used on corn crops, soy crops, and cotton growing to stop unwanted weeds and grasses from growing in the crop fields.
Below we’ll get into some of the histories on the growing body of evidence linking paraquat to Parkinson’s disease and other terrible medical conditions.
Which brand products contain Paraquat as an ingredient?
Paraquat is produced by numerous companies, the most common brand names being Gramoxone, Firestorm, and Blanco. It’s also worth noting that Paraquat is often mixed with other herbicides, so it’s important to check your labels! Other names include Para-Shot and Quick-Chat.
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative illness that affects movement over time. People with Parkinson’s might experience tremors, slow movement, problems with balance, and difficulty speaking clearly.
There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease yet, but there are medications to help relieve the symptoms. However, some of these medications have side effects that are worse than the disease itself.
Evidence of Paraquat Causing Parkinson’s Disease
In 2009, one of the first studies to reveal a link between Paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s Disease was published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
In 2011, a more comprehensive study was published which found that people who had been exposed to Paraquat were 2.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than those who had not been exposed.
In 2014, five case-controlled studies reaffirmed what many already were sure of: exposure to paraquat can cause Parkinson’s disease
In 2016, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) finally took notice and launched an investigation into the health hazards of Paraquat.
Now let’s fast forward several years, March 2021, Greenpeace releases a report calling on the EPA to ban Paraquat. Known as “The Paraquat Papers”, Greenpeace lampoons Syngenta, the Chinese-owned corporation that continuously exports paraquat even though the chemical is officially banned in China.
How does Paraquat cause Parkinson’s Disease?
Paraquat is said to induce Parkinson’s disease due to its ability to generate oxidative stress. Paraquat kills plants by producing oxidative stress, which causes plant cells to deteriorate and die.
Oxidative stress is known to harm dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, an area of the human brain that is involved in dopamine synthesis. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that controls motor activity throughout the body.
The same oxidation stress that causes Paraquat to be poisonous to plant cells also damages nerve dopaminergic neurons. It’s only natural that Paraquat exposure would raise the chance of Parkinson’s disease.
About Paraquat Class Action Lawsuit
Paraquat’s link to Parkinson’s disease may have been known to producers for years, but it was never made public. This implies that firms that manufactured and sold Paraquat can be held liable for selling a hazardous product without adequate warnings.
People who used or were exposed to Paraquat and then got diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease might be able to receive a sizeable, monetary benefits.
In 2017, a lawsuit was filed in Missouri against Syngenta, a Swiss-headquartered, Chinese-owned agrochemical company that makes the drug Paraquat. The lawsuit claims that the company is responsible for the development of Parkinson’s disease in people who have used the product
People who used or worked on farms where the weed killer Paraquat was used and later developed Parkinson’s disease sued the company that makes the weed killer. Similar lawsuits have been filed in other states.
There is now a class-action lawsuit against the company that makes Paraquat. This means all lawsuits against the company for Parkinson’s disease will be handled by one judge in what is called an MDL (multidistrict litigation).
How to file a lawsuit for Paraquat exposure
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after being exposed to Paraquat, you may be entitled to compensation. We urge you to contact our team today and speak to a professional.
