Who Is At Risk For Paraquat Exposure
Since paraquat is highly restricted, most people at risk for exposure are those who apply, mix, or load the weed killer, including:
- Farmers and farmworkers
- Chemical mixers
In 1997, the EPA confirmed that the primary route of exposure to paraquat occurred during the weed killers preparation, application, and post-application. To minimize exposure risk, regulations require those who work with the highly toxic chemical to use chemical-resistant gloves made of barrier laminate, butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, neoprene rubber, natural rubber, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride , or Viton. All must be equal to or greater than 14 mils. Applicators also must use respiratory protection and safety glasses that include splash guards. Mixers and loaders must add a full-face shield and a chemical-resistant apron.
Paraquat isnt available for household use, but the EPA also said that individuals who live near farms using paraquat risk exposure to the weed killer. In 2009, a study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology backed up this finding, revealing that people who lived within 500 meters of paraquat use had a 75% increased risk of developing Parkinsons disease.
Coincidentally, the American Parkinson Disease Association reported that individuals who met any of the following criteria were more likely to develop Parkinsons:
- Farming as an occupation
Can You Get Sick From Inhaling Weed Killer
Is it bad to breathe in weed killer? The answer to this question is yes. Inhaling the spray mist from weed killer can cause burning in the nose, sinuses, throat, and chest. Depending on the type and toxicity of the weed killer, you could experience headache, vomiting, nausea, and even permanent lung damage. Over time, breathing in weed killers or otherwise being exposed to them can cause serious illnesses and damage to the body.
Is Weed Killer Poisonous To Humans The Toxic Chemicals In Some Pesticides Have Been Linked To Parkinsons Disease Cancer And Other Serious Injuries
Weed killers containing dangerous chemicals are used extensively throughout the United States, including Texas. They are used at farms and ranches and in other commercial operations. They may be sprayed at parks, schools, and other public places to eradicate grasses and weeds. Weed killers containing hazardous ingredients are also used by people in their yards and gardens. Exposure to the toxic ingredients in weed killers can cause severe and potentially fatal illnesses and poisoning injuries.
Some commonly used weed killers have been linked to Parkinsons disease, cancer, organ damage, and other serious illnesses and injuries. When these toxins come in contact with the skin, eyes, or mucous membranes, are breathed in through the nose or mouth, or are accidentally swallowed, people get hurt. But that hasnt stopped the profit-driven corporations that make these dangerous products from continuing to produce, market, and sell them, putting profits over peoples welfare.
Also Check: What Vitamins Are Good For Parkinson’s Disease
What Is Paraquat Used For
Commercial farmers and other agricultural workers in the United States have been using paraquat to control invasive weeds and grasses since 1964. Applicators spray it on commercial crops such as corn, soy and cotton.
Because of its toxicity, the EPA limits the herbicides use to licensed applicators for commercial use. There are no paraquat products licensed for use by homeowners.
Paraquat should never be used around:
Dont Miss: Best Food For Parkinson Patient
Suffering The Harmful Effects Of Weed Killer
The harmful effects of weed killer have led to tens of thousands of product injury lawsuits throughout the country. And more are being filed all the time. Some of the lawsuits have resulted in substantial jury awards and settlements. Many lawsuits over weed killer products are still ongoing.
If youve regularly used commercial weed killer in your job or off-the-shelf weed killer products in your job or as a recreational gardener and are suffering from Parkinsons, cancer or another harmful effect, contact us today. The accident and injury law office of Terry Bryant in Houston may be able to get you financial compensation.
Our attorneys are experienced in a wide range of serious product liability claims and lawsuits, and we care deeply about making our communities safer. We want to help you, too.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Get Parkinson’s
Link Between Paraquat And Parkinsons
Many people think of Parkinsons disease as an inherited condition, and it can be. However, genetics are only responsible for about 10% to 15% Parkinsons cases, according to the Parkinsons Foundation. Most experts agree that environmental factors also play a role in the development of Parkinsons disease, one of the most likely being exposure to pesticides and herbicides like Paraquat. Research has shown that Paraquat exposure can cause cell damage and death through a process called oxidative stress, which can lead to Parkinsons disease if the dopamine neuron cells in the brain are affected. Dopamine works with other neurotransmitters to send messages to the part of the brain that controls coordination and movement, and when the nerve cells in the brain die or become impaired and lose their ability to produce dopamine, symptoms of Parkinsons disease may occur.
What Is Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana is cannabis that’s prescribed by a physician to treat or provide relief for a medical condition.
There are around 400 chemicals in the cannabis plant, and more than 60 of them are referred to as cannabinoids. The high marijuana users get is primarily due to the most psychoactive cannabinoid in the plant called tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.
Cannabinol, or CBD, is the other cannabinoid, which is used in medical marijuana. CBD does not cause a high when taken alone and, in fact, moderates the psychoactive effects. Research is being done to determine how medical marijuana can help treat or relieve symptoms of various diseases, including Parkinson’s disease.
You May Like: Is Parkinson’s A Neuromuscular Disease
Hiring A Paraquat Lawsuit Lawyer To Resolve A Paraquat Herbicide
Has your doctor told you that exposure to toxic Paraquat could cause Parkinson’s? Did you work with the weed and grass killer and develop rashes through skin absorption or inhalation?
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, our paraquat attorneys have a proven track record of representing injured victims harmed by the popular herbicide. Our personal injury lawyers will review your paraquat case and advise you of your legal options.
Contact our paraquat lawyers today at 424-5757, or use the contact form to schedule a free consultation. All confidential or sensitive information you share with your paraquat lawyer remains private through an attorney-client relationship.
Our law firm accepts all personal injury cases and wrongful death lawsuits on a contingency fee basis. This agreement ensures you do not pay the legal fee until your paraquat attorney successfully resolves your legal issue through a negotiated paraquat settlement or jury award.
Contact our law firm today to file a Parkinson’s disease paraquat lawsuit.
Widely Used Industrial Weed Killer Paraquat Linked To Parkinsons Disease
Beasley Allen Law Firm is now investigating cases of Parkinsons disease in people exposed to the weed killer paraquat, known by the brand name Gramoxone, and others. Paraquat is one of the most popular herbicides for weed and grass control.
In 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency restricted the use of paraquat to licensed applicators to minimize ingestion and exposure risk based on studies in animal models that showed paraquat exposure was linked to Parkinsons disease. Thirty-two countries around the world have already banned the herbicide due to its high toxicity.
The National Institute of Healths National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the Parkinsons Institute and Clinical Center in Sunnyvale, California recently conducted studies on paraquat exposure. They have found that people exposed to paraquat developed Parkinsons disease up to 2.5 times more often than non-users. The primary routes of paraquat exposure are during the preparation, application, and post-application of the weed killer.
Caroline Tanner, M.D., Ph.D., clinical research director for the PICC and lead author of that study, writes:
These findings may have important implications for the treatment and ultimately the prevention of Parkinsons disease.
Recommended Reading: Does Dennis Quaid Have Parkinson’s
One Of The First Studies To Look At Human Cells
The researchers used stem cells from patients with Parkinsons disease who had a mutation in the gene responsible for encoding the -synuclein protein.
At least 30 alterations in this gene have been associated with Parkinsons, and -synuclein protein clumps are a well-documented, albeit poorly understood, hallmark of the disease.
For the new research, the scientists also worked with normal embryonic cells that they modified using genetic editing to replicate the -synuclein genetic mutation.
Prof. Ryan explains why using human cells makes this study particularly valuable. Until now, he says, the link between pesticides and Parkinsons disease was based primarily on animal studies as well as epidemiological research that demonstrated an increased risk among farmers and others exposed to agricultural chemicals.
We are one of the first to investigate what is happening inside human cells, explains Prof. Ryan.
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that go on to individualize into specific types of cells. Prof. Ryan and his colleagues used the two types of stem cells to derive dopamine-producing nerve cells from them.
Then, they exposed these dopaminergic neurons which are known to be affected the most by Parkinsons disease to the two pesticides.
Recommended Reading: Parkinsons Disease Family Support
Contact A Paraquat Injury Attorney For Legal Help
More and more Paraquat lawsuits accuse Syngenta and other manufacturers of failing to provide adequate warnings about the potential link between Paraquat and Parkinsons disease. All Paraquat claims filed in the federal court system have been centralized in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, and the first Paraquat trials are expected to begin late next year. As of September 15, 2021, there are currently 289 Paraquat lawsuits pending in the federal MDL, and attorneys across the country continue to investigate claims on behalf of former users who are just now learning about the potential link between the weed killer and their Parkinsons disease diagnosis. If you or someone you love was exposed to Paraquat and subsequently developed Parkinsons disease, do not hesitate to speak to an experienced Paraquat injury attorney about your legal options.
Don’t Miss: When To Start Medication For Parkinson’s
Paraquat A Popular Weed Killer Puts Farmers At Risk
Farmers, agricultural workers and groundskeepers who developed Parkinsons disease after using the weed killer Paraquat might be eligible for compensation. A growing number of Paraquat lawsuits implicating the toxic weed killer for causing Parkinsons Disease have been filed throughout the country.
RPWBs toxic exposure attorneys are reviewing cases of patients who developed Parkinsons disease after exposure to herbicides containing Paraquat. Common products containing the chemical include: Gramoxone, Ortho-Paraquat, Para-SHOT, Parazone, Quick-Quat, Firestorm and Helmqua. Patients with Parkinsons disease who had repeated exposure to Paraquat should consult with an experienced toxic exposure attorney without delay to see if their case can be included in national litigation against the manufacturers.
Paraquat Lawsuit Numbers Are Growing Throughout The United States
One of the first cases involving the Paraquat was filed in St. Clair County, Illinois. The lawsuit claims that the manufacturers failed to warn them of the dangers of paraquat dichloride as specified by the toxic pesticides act.
Since then, similar civil suits have been filed in various jurisdictions alleging Paraquat exposure caused Parkinson’s Disease.
Due to the similar fact patterns involving the same defendants and similar injuries, the lawsuits have been consolidated into a Multi-District Litigation program in Federal Court.
On June 7, 2021, the United States Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation ordered all civil suits filed in Federal Court to be consolidated into the Southern District of Southern Illinois
Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel will oversee existing and future product liability lawsuits as they will be centralized for discovery purposes, but cases will be tried individually.
While these cases remain in the early phases of litigation, our Paraquat attorneys will monitor the cases’ progress and update this web page as Judge Rosenstengel makes substantive rulings.
As the number of paraquat lawsuits continues to grow, we will report on settlements and jury verdicts.
Paraquat dichloride is a highly toxic weed-killing herbicide for commercial use only. Since farmers come in close contact with this herbicide, they’re most vulnerable. Apart from that, people living near industrial farms also suffer from paraquat exposure to toxic herbicides.
Recommended Reading: What Areas Of The Brain Are Affected By Parkinson’s Disease
Is Paraquat Banned In The United States
While many countries in the world have banned paraquat, in the United States, the weed killer is still in use on many farmlands sprayed with the deadly weed and grass killer.
There are no federal or state laws that ban consumers from buying or using paraquat. However, no one can sell the chemical to anyone under 18. In addition, the US Department of Transportation restricts the herbicide to transport on public roadways because of its toxicity.
In the United States, multiple states have issued a ban on paraquat for any agricultural purpose. Using paraquat as an active ingredient against plants and vegetation is illegal.
Two of the states that have banned paraquat:
Although paraquat has been banned in some states, it is still legal in other states. In the states where paraquat is still legal to use and purchase, federal agencies have restricted its transportation on public roadways due to toxicity concerns.
The paraquat lawyers at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers represent victims harmed by the toxic chemical, including those diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
With A New Law Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Victims Finally Have Legal Recourse
For more than 30 years, the drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune was contaminated with a cocktail of dangerous toxins linked to cancer, leukemia, Parkinsons disease and other serious medical conditions. Now after intense lobbying by veterans groups and others, victims of Camp Lejeunes contaminated water have legal recourse for compensation. On Wednesday,
Also Check: Is There Any Treatment For Parkinson’s Disease
Paraquat Weed Killer And Parkinsons Disease
Are you suffering from Parkinsons disease due to paraquat exposure? Are you, or a loved one, coping with harsh symptoms that could have been avoided? If so, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your medical expenses, suffering, and other related costs. You may qualify to participate in a paraquat lawsuit, so, reach out to Patterson Legal Group for a FREE consultation today.
Roundup Causing Parkinsons: A Brief Guide
Roundup is a popular chemical herbicide used on lawns, farms, and in gardens across the world. However, following recent studies that link Roundup to Parkinsons and other diseases, the herbicide is being more heavily regulated. Though there are regulations and Roundup has been banned in many counties, there are still areas of the United States where it goes unregulated. While Roundup may be an effective herbicide, its been shown to be extremely dangerous, and one of its key ingredients, glyphosate, is linked to Parkinsons disease.
Don’t Miss: Does Alcohol Reduce Parkinson Tremors
We Can Help You Pursue A Paraquat Lawsuit
Every company has a legal responsibility to ensure its products are safe, but sometimes that doesn’t happen and other people suffer the consequences.
To make matters worse, anyone who tries to recover appropriate compensation for their damages will likely be confronted with a team of lawyers that will do everything in their power to protect the company’s bottom line, even if it comes at the expense of the victim.
At Tracey Fox King & Walters, our highly skilled personal injury attorneys consistently rise to the challenge whenever a client comes to us with a complex legal matter, including cases that involve defective or inherently dangerous products.
Make no mistake, there is no case too complicated and no company too big for us to handle.
Whether it’s through a negotiated settlement or by way of a successful court judgment, our dedicated legal team will help you seek justice and fight for the compensation you deserve.
If you or someone you love developed Parkinson’s disease after being exposed to paraquat, you may be able to pursue a lawsuit.
To learn more about your legal rights and options, contact us today for a free case evaluation. We have three Texas locations in Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio and would be honored to speak with you about your potential legal case.
Frequent Exposure To Paraquat Weed Killer Caused Parkinsons Diagnosis Lawsuit Alleges
A new product liability lawsuit filed in federal court in Illinois alleges that years of regular exposure to the controversial herbicide Paraquat caused a Mississippi man to develop Parkinsons disease. The case, brought by plaintiff Neil McCord, a certified Paraquat applicator in Mississippi between 1970 and 1983, joins a growing number of lawsuits brought against Syngenta, Chevron, and other Paraquat manufacturers, blaming the weed killer for Parkinsons disease and other serious health problems in U.S. farmers and agricultural workers. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with Parkinsons disease after being exposed to Paraquat during mixing, loading, or application, you may be eligible to join the Paraquat multidistrict litigation. Contact Consumer Safety Watch as soon as possible to learn more about the link between Paraquat and Parkinsons disease and to find out whether you are eligible to file a claim for compensation.
You May Like: Which Part Of The Brain Is Affected By Parkinson’s Disease
Traces Of Roundup Found Throughout Food Chain
Co-authors Stephanie Seneff, research scientist from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Anthony Samsel, retired science consultant from Arthur D. Little, Inc., indicate that they found residues of glyphosate in many of the staple foods common in the western diet, most of which contain sugar, corn soy or wheat products.
Roundup is the most popular herbicide in the world. Farmers in the United States used about 185 million pounds of Roundup in 2007, according to the Environmental Protection Agency . That is nearly twice the amount used six years earlier.
Residential consumers also widely use Roundup to treat weeds in household lawns, gardens and even golf courses.
Monsanto maintains Roundup is minimally toxic to humans. They continue to use the product on millions of acres of crops across the United States. It is used on many genetically engineered crops, such as corn, soybeans, canola and sugar beets. Genetically modified crops are specifically engineered to withstand direct applications of massive amounts of weed killer.
Researchers say the long-term side effects of Roundup may also be linked to other chronic diseases and health problems, such as diabetes, obesity, heart disease, depression, infertility and gastrointestinal disorders.
The studys authors emphasized they hit upon something very important that needs to be taken seriously and further investigated.
Read Also: Is Magnesium Good For Parkinsons