Paraquat is a highly toxic chemical herbicide primarily used to control weeds and grasses. A clear medical link has been established between exposure to paraquat and a number of illnesses, including Parkinson’s disease.
Weitz & Luxenberg is investigating injury claims of farmers, agricultural workers, groundskeepers, and others exposed to the herbicide paraquat who are suffering from Parkinson’s disease. We are pursuing compensation claims for victims of this dangerous product.
Paraquat Linked to Parkinson’s Disease
Growers, pickers, and other agricultural workers exposed to paraquat are potentially at risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, among other illnesses.
In 2019, the Unified Parkinson’s Advocacy Council sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Council cited “strong scientific evidence linking the herbicide to Parkinson’s, including one study that found people exposed to paraquat at a younger age — in their teen or young adult years — had an increased Parkinson’s risk of 200 to 600 percent, depending on the overall number of years of exposure.”
“Paraquat is a threat to human health when the chemical is breathed during spraying,” explains Robin L. Greenwald, who heads Weitz & Luxenberg’s Environmental, Toxic Tort & Consumer Protection Unit.
“Paraquat is known to cause serious injuries to people who come in contact with it; indeed, most of the world has responded to its dangers by forbidding paraquat use entirely. Today, paraquat is banned in 32 countries.”
“Large corporations often create products containing toxic chemicals that they claim publicly won’t hurt people. People place their trust in what they’ve been told. They continue to use and work with the product but then, when it is too late, people find out that the product may have caused them to develop a life altering disease, such as Parkinson’s disease in the case of paraquat. Such corporate conduct is morally and legally wrong,” Ms. Greenwald points out.
“Weitz & Luxenberg wants to help you get compensation from these companies to fund your medical care, and get compensation for the pain and suffering you have done through,” she emphasizes.
Paraquat Used on Crops and Grounds
Paraquat is marketed throughout the U.S. under various brand names. These include Cyclone, Helmquat, Parazone, and Gramoxone — which is sold by agricultural company Syngenta.
Crops paraquat is most commonly used on include:
- Soybeans
- Corn
- Cotton
- Alfalfa
- Orchards and Grapes
- Pasture
The herbicide has been banned in 32 countries. Its dangers are well known. To mix, load, or apply paraquat, individuals must now obtain special training, beyond just earning their Restricted Use Pesticide applicator license.
According to the EPA, “the paraquat training module emphasizes the importance of handling paraquat safely because of its extreme toxicity.”
The states where paraquat is most commonly used are:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
Symptoms of Parkinson’s
There are a wide variety of symptoms you may be experiencing with Parkinson’s disease.
These include:
- Motor Symptoms: stiffness, slowness, resting tremor, walking problems, difficulty with balance and coordination.
- Non-Motor Symptoms: constipation, low blood pressure, sexual problems, sweating problems, urine problems.
- Mood and Thinking Changes: lack of motivation and interest in activities, memory or thinking problems, depression, anxiety, visual hallucinations, paranoid beliefs and delusions.
- Other Physical Changes: drooling, excessive daytime sleepiness or fatigue, pain, skin changes, sleep problems, smell loss, speech problems, swallowing problems, vision changes, weight changes.
Victims Deserve Compensation
Large corporations often create and market products containing toxic chemicals, Ms. Greenwald indicates. “They claim these chemicals are harmless, but they’re not,” she insists. “The tragedy is that people innocently trust what they are told and then pay the ultimate price – their health.”
Often, by the time the truth about the product dangers becomes widely known, it is too late to avoid serious health consequences, Ms. Greenwald adds.
Contact us if you were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and:
- You sprayed paraquat yourself.
- You were employed by a business that used a paraquat product and you were exposed to it.
- You, or your employer, was licensed to use a paraquat product — a restricted use pesticide license.
Types of Compensation
Paraquat victims who contact Weitz & Luxenberg are eligible for a no-cost, no-obligation evaluation of their legal rights against Syngenta and other marketers of this toxic chemical.
To obtain the free consultation, please complete the form on this page or call (833) 977-3437.
“If you were exposed to paraquat, the manufacturer may have to pay for your medical bills, the time you lost from work while you were ill, and your pain and suffering,” said Ms. Greenwald.
If paraquat has made you ill with Parkinson’s disease, we may be able to help you get:
- Compensation for your medical bills.
- Compensation for your time when you were sick and couldn’t work.
- Compensation for your pain and suffering.
- Compensation for family members who have died — loss of consortium and wrongful death.
Paraquat Lawsuits
Weitz & Luxenberg attorneys have experience in settling and litigating toxic chemical exposure lawsuits on behalf of individuals who developed serious illnesses. We have had success in representing thousands of people who were made seriously sick, or died, from toxic products, such as Roundup weed killer.
Weitz & Luxenberg is a nationally-recognized law firm with a long history of successfully handling personal injury litigation. In the past quarter-century, we have recovered more than $19 billion in verdicts and settlements for our clients.
Reach out to us today to discuss your options.
