Find Out If You Are Eligible For A Paraquat Lawsuit
The more thats learned about paraquat exposure and Parkinsons disease, the clearer the link becomes. Our lawyers are continuing to research this troubling association. As part of our paraquat lawsuit investigation, were speaking to Parkinsons patients who may have been exposed to paraquat, either occupationally or in their community.
Our Environmental and Toxic Torts attorneys have a strong track record of holding powerful corporations accountable for harming the environment and damaging the health of residents. We have decades of experience filing lawsuits against the largest and most powerful corporations in the world, with billions and billions of dollars recovered for our clients.
If you or a loved one were exposed to paraquat and developed Parkinsons disease, you may have the right to take legal action. A free paraquat lawsuit review from Milberg is the first step in the process. Contact us today to talk to a lawyer.
When To See A Doctor
The symptoms of Parkinsons disease include tremors, slowed movement, rigid muscles, posture and balance problems, and changes in speech and writing. There is no specific test to diagnose the disease, and diagnosis may not be immediate. If you are experiencing symptoms, it is recommended to schedule a visit with a neurologist. You may also want to speak with a lawyer about a paraquat lawsuit.
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No One Definitive Cause Of Parkinsons
There are no biomarkers or objective screening tests that indicate one has Parkinsons. That said, medical experts have shown that a constellation of factors are linked to it.
Parkinsons causes are likely a blend of genetics and environmental or other unknown factors. About 10 to 20 percent of Parkinsons disease cases are linked to a genetic cause, says Ted Dawson, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Institute for Cell Engineering at Johns Hopkins. The types are either autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive .
But that leaves the majority of Parkinsons cases as idiopathic, which means unknown. We think its probably a combination of environmental exposure to toxins or pesticides and your genetic makeup, says Dawson.
Age. The biggest risk factor for developing Parkinsons is advancing age. The average age of onset is 60.
Gender. Men are more likely to develop Parkinsons disease than women.
Genetics. Individuals with a parent or sibling who is affected have approximately two times the chance of developing Parkinsons. Theres been an enormous amount of new information about genetics and new genes identified over the past 10 or 15 years that have opened up a greater understanding of the disease, says Dawson.
Symptoms Of Parkinsons Disease
Parkinsons is a neurological disorder. It mostly affects the brain and the bodys motion.
Parkinsons is degenerative, meaning it gets worse over time. Parkinsons symptoms may not be severe or noticeable at first.
But symptoms of Parkinsons Disease are easier to see as the condition develops:
Rigidity / Slow Movement
People with Parkinsons often feel stiffness in their back, neck and limbs. This can make it difficult for them to move around.
Tremors / Shaking
Parkinsons is frequently associated with slight shaking or tremors in the arms, hands, feet, chin and mouth. Often the limb will shake even while the person is resting and not using it.
Unsteadiness / Imbalance
Parkinsons patients often report an inability to get a nights rest.
People with Parkinsons may have involuntary bodily movements while sleeping and wake themselves up.
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Asbestos Awareness Week Shines Light On Mesothelioma A Cancer That Continues To Devastate
The first week of April 2022 is Asbestos Awareness Week in the United States. Members of both houses of Congress unanimously approved resolutions making the designation. Once ubiquitous in worksites and homes throughout the country, we are still experiencing the negative health effects of asbestos decades after its peak use. Mesothelioma, the insidious cancer caused
What Is Trichloroethylene Used In
Trichloroethylene is used in several industries. It is mostly used as a solvent to remove grease from metal such as auto parts, but it may also be an ingredient in:
- furniture cleaners
- computer part cleaners
TCE, however, does not only affect those people who come into contact with it, as it has been shown to persist in the environment for over a year.
Unsuspecting victims may not even realize that they have been exposed to the substance, as it can also contaminate groundwater and soil, and even well water that people drink.
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What If I’m Not A Resident Of Canada
If any buyer, seller, or mortgagor is not a Canadian resident then additional fees and procedures may apply.
A non-resident speculation tax equal to 15% of the purchase price applies on the purchase or acquisition of an interest in residential or farm property located in the Greater Golden Horseshoe Region by people who are not citizens or permeant residents of Canada or by foreign corporations or trusts.
To comply with income tax requirements, 25% of the sale price of any property sold by a non-resident of Canada will be withheld, to ensure the payment of income tax liabilities. Those funds will only be released once the Canada Revenue Agency provides a Certificate confirming that no taxes remain outstanding. We would advise any non-resident seller to consult with an accountant prior to selling property in Canada.
For more information please contact the Siskinds Real Estate Team.
What Else Do We Know
As scientists try to learn whats at the root of Parkinsons, theyre looking far and wide to pick up clues where they can.
Theyve found that people with Parkinsons tend to have something called Lewy bodies in their brain. These are unusual clumps of a protein called alpha-synuclein. The protein itself is normal, but the clumps are not. And theyre found in parts of the brain that affect sleep and sense of smell, which could explain some symptoms of Parkinsons not related to movement.
Your gut may also have a part in it, as some of its cells make dopamine, too. Some doctors think that this might be where the earliest signs of Parkinsons show up, but that idea needs more research.
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Are There Better Alternatives To Paraquat
The short answer is yes. There are better, greener, alternatives to paraquat and while not all of them might be as effective or as cheap, they are a lot safer for humans and the planet.
For example, in the banana industry companies used to make use of paraquat as their main herbicide, but with developing research linking paraquat to different diseases including Parkinsons, some banana growers started using non-chemical, greener methods such as mowing, covering the ground with banana leaves, and mulching.
It seems that these methods work for them which makes us wonder why other companies and farming communities cant invest and look into safer alternatives given that this is such a highly toxic chemical not fit for human use, commercial or otherwise.
Does Paraquat Increase The Risk Of Parkinsons Disease
Paraquat works by preventing electron transfer in the plants to which it applies. Electron transfer is an essential component of many of the plants functions, including photosynthesis and respiration. Once these processes are inhibited, the plant dies. Activists and members of the scientific community worry that Paraquat functions similarly in humans and other animals. Science writer Brian Clegg summarizes the issue for Chemistry World. Because humans respiration and other essential functions also rely on electron transfer, many are concerned that Paraquat might damage these functions in humans and animals as well as plants. If these systems are disrupted, serious health results may occur. In particular, there has been increasing concern that exposure to Paraquat might be linked to Parkinsons disease, a degenerative neurological condition.
Concerns about the connection between Paraquat exposure and Parkinsons disease gained increased attention in 2011 when the NIH conducted a study known as Farming and Movement Evaluation to explore possible links. The study found that individuals exposed to Paraquat were roughly 2.5 times more likely to develop Parkinsons disease than those who had no such exposure.
A 2012 study from the Parkinsons Institute revealed that individuals characterized by a particular gene variation had an eleven-fold increase in their likelihood of developing Parkinsons disease after exposure to Paraquat.
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Paraquat Exposure Alert: Paraquat Linked To Parkinsons Diseaseagricultural Workers Could Be Entitled To Compensation
Agricultural workers who were exposed to the herbicide paraquat and have been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease may have a claim for financial compensation.
With lawsuits against paraquat manufacturers already filed in multiple states, attorneys are now investigating paraquat lawsuit cases at no charge.
A paraquat toxic exposure lawsuit may be your only chance to receive the compensation you need to cover the costs of treating Parkinsons disease.
Have You Been Exposed To Paraquat
If you have developed Parkinsons disease, or symptoms, due to paraquat exposure, you likely have grounds to file suit against the paraquat manufacturers who harmed you including:
- Syngenta Group
- Chevron Phillips Chemical Company, LLC
- Drexel Chemical Company
- HELM Agro US, Inc.
According to the National Law Review, the first of these lawsuits was filed in October 2017 in Illinois. Our legal team at Wilson Law, P.A. is proud to announce that we are accepting cases in North Carolina and will file paraquat lawsuits for residents suffering catastrophic injury due to toxic exposure. There are several different herbicides throughout the nation that contain paraquat, the most common of which is Syngentas Gramoxone SL 2.0 Herbicide. Para-SHOT, Helmquat, and Devour are other common weed killers in which paraquat is an active ingredient.
To learn more, please visit our paraquat litigation page here.
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Modelling Pd In Rodents And Simple Organisms
Impaired mitochondrial function is a predominant feature in cases of Parkinson’s disease due to genetic or environmental modifications, which result in mitochondrial stress. This may directly compromise the neuron or cause alterations in neurotransmitter release, resulting in post-synaptic damage. A pro-inflammatory component is increasingly considered to be important in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative conditions including PD, and pro-inflammatory activation of glial cells may be pivotal in disease onset.,
Although many of the genes involved in PD have been identified, their interactions are still unclear. Mutations of -synuclein or duplications of -synuclein are linked to familial PD and -synuclein is a component of Lewy bodies. -synuclein tends to form intracellular fibrils and aggregates, particularly after oxidative stress. Loss of an ubiquitin ligase, Parkin, is responsible for autosomal recessive juvenile parkinsonism. Finally, mutations in genes coding for UCH-L1 and Pink-1 are linked to autosomal recessive PD, whereas mutations in LRRK2 are linked with autosomal dominant PD. Recent work has shown that mutations in the mitochondrial protease HtrA2 are also linked to PD downstream of the kinase, Pink 1. Mutations in Parkin are recognized as the most common cause of familial parkinsonism and may be involved in sporadic PD. Parkin seems to work as a broad-spectrum neuroprotectant, the efficacy of which decreases with ageing.
How Can You Be Exposed To Paraquat
You can encounter paraquat hazards in one of the following ways:
- Inhalation: Paraquat exposure is dangerous. Inhaling hazardous herbicides can damage the lungs. Inhalation occurs when you breathe in the aerosolized chemical or smoke a plant tainted with paraquat. Traces of paraquat have been found in marijuana in the US.
- Eating or Drinking: The toxic herbicide easily mixes into drinks and foods, making consumption through ingestion or drinking deadly. A strong odor, dye, and vomiting agents are added to paraquat in the US to minimize the risk of exposure through accidental ingestion.
- Skin Contact: If paraquat comes into direct contact with skin, it can cause harm, especially if the paraquat exposure has been ongoing for a long time. Moreover, the effect of exposure to paraquat is higher if there’s a rash or open wound upon contact.
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Parkinsons Disease Vs Old Age
It can be difficult to tell if a person has Parkinsons Disease:
There is no test to know for certain if you have Parkinsons Disease.
Many of the symptoms of Parkinsons overlap with conditions associated with aging:
- Unsteadiness is common among many older people.
- Stiffness is also a symptom of arthritis, which often develops with aging.
- Difficulty sleeping may be insomnia, or a side effect of medication.
- Depression is common among aging people. Mortality and regret can be difficult subjects for anyone to consider.
If you have symptoms of Parkinsons Disease:Tremors Stiffness Poor Balance Difficulty SleepingBlank or Sad Facial Expression Depression DementiaPlease contact a healthcare expert to discuss your condition.
What Makes Paraquat Dichloride So Efficient
In a nutshell, paraquat is a highly toxic chemical that is commonly used as a weed killer and for general grass control. Paraquat was first introduced to the general population in 1961, and since then, it became a widely used herbicide throughout the United States and the world.
Paraquat is still used because its one of the most effective and cheapest herbicides on the market today. Agriculture and farmworkers use it systematically on their land after harvest to destroy any green leftovers. The herbicide kills weeds by stopping photosynthesis. If a plant cannot go through the photosynthesis process then it will not be able to synthesize the nutrients and will wither.
Another reason why paraquat is so extensively used is because its quick to apply and it rids farmers of extra tilling work and because weeds have developed resistance to other widely used chemicals such as glyphosate, commonly known as Roundup. While at first paraquat could have been used by anyone, today you need a license from the Environmental Protection Agency to use the chemical, which means its only available for industrial use.
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American Farmers Pursue Syngenta Over Herbicides Link To Parkinsons Disease
The Swiss-based multinational has already set aside $187.5 million to settle legal cases filed by farmers exposed to paraquat. But the total bill could run into billions as lawsuits pile up.
Swissinfo.ch’s India specialist covers a wide range of issues from bilateral relations to Bollywood. He also knows a thing or two about Swiss watchmaking and is partial to the French-speaking part of Switzerland.
American farmer Doug Holliday has helped feed the nation for decades, growing corn and soybeans and raising cattle on thousands of acres of land outside Greenfield, a rural city of some 2,000 people in the midwestern state of Iowa.
He has joined hundreds of farmers across the United States who have filed product liability lawsuits against the company over its failure to warn them that its top-selling herbicide, paraquat, is linked to serious health problems including Parkinsons disease. Farmers exposed to the toxic chemical, including many who have already developed the debilitating and incurable brain disorder, are also seeking financial compensation for non-economic and economic losses such as medical costs and loss of income.
Not knowing any of this I used paraquat and sprayed it myself on a large farm in the 1990s, Holliday told SWI swissinfo.ch in a telephone interview. I physically handled it and had to pour it multiple times into the sprayer as it was only sold in 2.5-gallon jugs.
What Herbicide Is Linked To Parkinsons
Parkinsons disease is caused by the loss of dopamine-releasing nerve cells in the part of the brain called substantia nigra. Dopamine helps coordinate movement in the body.
So when these nerve cells are impaired, our motor function is affected. Thats when hallmark Parkinsons disease symptoms including difficulty balancing, tremors, and slowed movement start to set in.
But aside from biological and genetic factors, research has shown that environmental exposure to toxicants such as pesticides, pollutants, and herbicides may also trigger Parkinsons disease.
In fact, aside from trichloroethylene, several environmental factors have also been associated with the development of the disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the popular herbicide known as Paraquat is a highly toxic substance which can put people at risk for severe poisoning in case of exposure.
Research has also suggested that people exposed to this herbicide may develop Parkinsons disease. In fact, the first Paraquat lawsuit back in 2017 was filed in behalf of agricultural workers and farmers who subsequently developed Parkinsons after occupational exposure to the substance.
The potentially harmful herbicide has since been banned in more than 50 countries, including China, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and other European Union nations. However, to this day, it is still widely used by farmers as a weed killer in the United States.
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Rotenone Linked To Parkinsons
A study from Koreas Yonsei University studied the broad spectrum pesticide Rotenone and how it damages nerve cells and pathways.
The researchers found that Rotenone induces cell death in a process called with G2/M cell cycle arrest. G2/M cell cycle arrest blocks the process of mitosis that enables cells and their DNA to replicate and more importantly among nerve cells repair any DNA damage.
Thus the insecticide basically blocks the ability of the nerve cell to repair itself lending to the cells eventually dying off or mutating.
Who May Qualify To File A Paraquat Lawsuit
Those at the highest risk include farmers, agricultural workers, licensed herbicide/pesticide applicators, landscapers, and other people who used or were exposed to professional-grade herbicides.
If you or a family member has Parkinsons symptoms after using or being exposed to paraquat you may have a case against the manufacturer and be entitled to compensation.
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