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Paraquat Exposure Has Been Linked To Parkinson’s Disease

Paraquat Can Kill Instantly

Parkinson’s Disease Lawsuit – Paraquat Herbicide

One study on the paraquat link to Parkinsons found that 3 of 544 cases of Parkinsons disease were associated with paraquat inhalation. All three sufferers had a history of contact with the herbicide before their diagnosis.

Unlike other herbicides, this weed and grass killer can kill a subject instantly when swallowed or cause Parkinsons disease through long-term exposure.

Over time, slowed mobility and stiffness develop in the patient. Parkinsons disease gradually progresses since it has five stages. The earlier stages are less noticeable, but the victims quality of life and mobility suffer as they go to the later stages.

Here are some motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinsons disease patients experience:

  • Change in speech patterns and general speech
  • Hunching forward
  • Frequent shaking and tremors in hands
  • Notably slow mobility

A 2018 study found that farmworkers using hazardous Paraquat were 2.5 times more likely to suffer serious health problems and develop Parkinsons disease.

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Settlement Value Of Parkinsons Disease Lawsuits

Parkinsons disease is a debilitating condition that cannot be cured and gradually gets worse over time. These factors make PD a high-value injury in tort cases. In the Paraquat litigation, our lawyers are estimating that top-end Parkinsons disease cases could have a settlement value of $250,000 to $600,000. In Camp Lejeune water contamination cases, we estimate that Parkinsons disease cases could have a settlement value range of $1,00,000 to $1,250,000.

Contact Us About Parkinsons Disease Lawsuits

If you have a potential tort case involving Parkinsons disease, including a Paraquat or Camp Lejeune Parkinsons disease case, contact our lawyers today for a free consultation at 800-553-8082.

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A Rise In Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons disease is a life-altering condition that gets progressively worse over time and has no cure. The disease causes nerve cells in the substantia nigra portion of the brain to decrease production of the neurotransmitter dopamine. When there is not enough dopamine in the brain, a variety of unique symptoms appear that can quickly be identified as Parkinsons disease.

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Who Qualifies To File A Belviq Lawsuit

Every case and situation is unique. In order to determine your eligibility, reach out to our personal injury law firm for a complimentary case evaluation.

Who Qualifies?

In general, any patient who had taken Belviq for a period of six months or longer, and who later developed colorectal, pancreatic, or lung cancer may qualify.

*Use of Belviq does not have to be 6-consecutive months, but 6-months or more total

Heirs and family members of a patient who had taken Belviq for six or more months and later died from these cancers may also qualify .

Manassas Paraquat Lawsuit Lawyer

Paraquat Lawyer

Receiving a Parkinsons disease diagnosis is life-changing. For some, the disease is unavoidable. However, the danger could have been compounded by exposure to the dangerous herbicide paraquat. Exposure has been linked with Parkinsons, laying the groundwork for legal action against manufacturers. You might have suffered other related losses and injuries.

Indeed, a Manassas paraquat lawsuit lawyer from the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC can evaluate your case for free if you suspect your diagnosis is related to herbicide exposure. Our team fights for damages to support Virginia paraquat victims like you adjusting to life with Parkinsons disease and other related losses.

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What Is The Paraquat Settlement

Were you or a close relative exposed to this highly toxic substance? If so, you can file a paraquat lawsuit against the company to get compensation for lost wages and medical bills. The process is called a paraquat lawsuit settlement.

For instance, Syngenta is a company that makes hazardous chemicals and is being held liable in many paraquat lawsuits.

The paraquat lawyers hold the company accountable because it:

  • Should have known due to extensive testing before product release or knew about the toxic effects of Paraquat exposure and its link with Parkinson’s
  • Failed to warn the chemical users about the health consequences of the herbicide use
  • Failed to protect users from paraquat exposure by taking responsible steps

Specific Pesticides And Their Link To Pd

The evidence that pesticide use is associated with an increased risk in PD, begs the question are there specific pesticides that are most concerning? When data is collected on this topic in large populations, often the participants in the study are unaware of which specific pesticide exposures they have had. This makes it difficult to determine which pesticides to avoid.

Some studies however were able to investigate the risks of specific chemicals. A recent review summarized the current state of knowledge on this topic. The chemical with the most data linking it to an increased PD risk is paraquat, with exposure associated with a 2-3 fold increased PD risk over the general population.

One particularly comprehensive study investigated exposure to 31 pesticides and their association with PD risk. From that data emerged paraquat and rotenone as the two most concerning pesticides.

  • Paraquats mechanism of action is the production of reactive oxygen species, intracellular molecules that cause oxidative stress and damage cells.
  • Rotenones mechanism of action is disruption of the mitochondria, the component of the cell that creates energy for cell survival.

Interestingly, both mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are common themes in our general understanding of what causes death of nerve cells in PD.

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What Is Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder that has no cure. People with Parkinson’s, which is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, may experience a range of symptoms that develop gradually over time. Symptoms include:

  • Tremors in the arms and legs
  • Difficulty with coordination and balance

Is There Any Safe Way To Use Paraquat

Does Paraquat Exposure Cause Parkinson’s Disease?

Since the most toxic method of exposure to paraquat is swallowing, preventing this from happening is key to safe use. Because any amount of paraquat is dangerous when swallowed-even a minute amount-tamper-proof product packaging can help safeguard against it.

The safest way to use products containing it is by certified application technicians. EPA guidelines restrict its use to these professionals, even banning even their assistants and other non-licensed agricultural workers from using it. In addition, safety precautions to take before use of paraquat-containing herbicides and pesticides can include:

  • Covering the skin and hands during use
  • Removing protective clothing after use
  • Not pulling contaminated clothing over the head
  • Quickly and thoroughly washing exposed skin
  • Wearing eye protection and avoiding contacts

Contaminated clothing should also be disposed of immediately in sealed double bags. Paraquat users are cautioned to dispose of other items that come into contact with contaminated clothing, as well.

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How Toxic Is Paraquat

Paraquat has been called the most highly acutely toxic herbicide to be marketed over the last 60 years. It can be inhaled, absorbed through the skin, or ingested, and accounts for at least 17 deaths by accidental poisoning over the last 20 years. It is so dangerous that the Environmental Protection Agency requires commercial farmers to certify their applicators every three years.

Paraquat poisoning can be injurious and deadly, depending on how much was ingested, inhaled, or absorbed. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , paraquat causes direct damage when it comes into contact with the lining of the mouth, stomach, or intestines. After paraquat enters the body, it is distributed to all areas of the body. Paraquat causes toxic chemical reactions to occur throughout many parts of the body, primarily the lungs, liver, and kidneys. It can lead to heart, liver, and kidney failure, scarring of the lungs and esophagus, seizures, and respiratory failure, among other serious effects.

What Are The Stages Of Parkinsons Disease

Because it is a degenerative brain disorder, Parkinsons disease causes symptoms that increase in frequency and intensity over the years. There are 5 stages of Parkinsons disease and, with each stage, the progression of the condition will become more apparent:

  • stage 1: during this stage, people experience mild symptoms that do not usually interfere with their daily life, such as a tremor on one side of the body or a subtle change in how they walk.
  • stage 2: in the second stage, the symptoms worsen, resulting in a tremor in both sides of the body and thereby causing difficulty in performing daily activities.
  • stage 3: during this stage, people lose their sense of balance and, as a consequence, move considerably slower, with falls being more frequent and daily tasks such as eating or changing clothes becoming more difficult to perform.
  • stage 4: in the fourth stage, the symptoms become debilitating and the sufferer will no longer be able to live alone, as they will require the assistance of another person to perform daily tasks
  • stage 5: during this stage, which is the final stage, people experience severe symptoms, including stiffness in the legs that prevent them from walking or standing, and will require permanent assistance in performing their daily activities.

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Are You Eligible To File A Paraquat Parkinsons Disease Lawsuit

If you are among those who have been exposed to the herbicide Paraquat as a farmer or an agricultural laborer, or you are someone who has resided in a rural area where Paraquat was applied to crops and were subsequently diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, you may be eligible to file a class actionlawsuit to recover financial compensation.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation and maximize your potential compensation.

Finding Passion For Neurology

Paraquat Drift Lawsuits

RW: Can you talk about how you became interested in science and eventually became a neurologist?

RD: Both of my parents were psychiatrists, so I like to say I rebelled by becoming a neurologist .

Growing up, I had an internal drive to be a doctor, even at an early age. The reason I’m a neurologist is Dr. Steve Galetta, who’s now the chair of neurology at New York University Langone. He was a longtime residency program director at the University of Pennsylvania, where I earned my medical degree.

I took a brief detour and went to business school and joined a consulting firm before I went back to neurology. Galetta had told me that if I was not passionate about what I was doing, I should come back and do a neurology residency, and that I wouldnt feel complete unless I did.

Those words sunk in. I called my wife and asked what she thought about me switching gears and doing the residency. To her great credit, especially considering we had kids at the time, she said that would be fine.

So, I took a pay cut I think I erased a digit off of my salary and signed up for four more years of training. I owe a lot to Dr. Galetta and to many other teachers and mentors I learned from along the way.

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Are You Eligible For The Paraquat Lawsuit

If you suspect you have suffered from paraquat exposure, you may wonder about your eligibility. We strongly recommend scheduling a free consultation with a personal injury lawyer with experience in mass torts for your paraquat case. Our attorneys have closely followed all of the paraquat lawsuit updates, and we can help you determine whether or not you are eligible to file a claim. Below, we outline the general criteria that one must meet in order to file a paraquat lawsuit.

  • You or your family members were exposed to paraquat due to their occupation or due to their homes proximity to a farm that uses paraquat. Take note of the following details.
  • When the exposure occurred
  • When the Parkinsons diagnosis occurred
  • Provide documentation of the Parkinsons diagnosis, as well as the associated medical treatments.
  • Provide documentation of other important factors, such as lost wages, loss of earning capacity, and other damages.
  • This is not an exhaustive list of what you must prove to file a claim. The easiest way to determine your eligibility is to contact a paraquat attorney with Reich & Binstock. We will evaluate the facts of your case during your free, no-obligation consultation and let you know whether or not you qualify.

    Importance Of Expert Care

    People living with Parkinsons who seek expert care have better outcomes. Their complication risks are lower, and they enjoy better quality and longer lives. In fact, neurologist care saves about 4,600 lives each year in the U.S. alone. Better access to this care could help tens of thousands of people with Parkinsons.

    Whether youre newly diagnosed or have been living with Parkinsons for a while, getting the right care at the right time can make a difference for you and your family.

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    What Is The Link Between Exposure To Paraquat And Developing Parkinsons

    There have been multiple studies and research papers published on the link between Parkinsons and exposure to Paraquat.

  • In 1997, the EPA announces a link between exposure to Paraquat and Parkinsons: The primary route of exposure for paraquat is occupational exposure, including during the mixing, loading, and application of paraquat or during post-application processes . Paraquat is not registered for residential use, but residential exposure can occur for those living near farms where paraquat has been applied.
  • Research into the role of pesticide exposure leading to Parkinsons was published in 2009, in the American Journal of Epidemiology. The study provide evidence that exposure to a combination of maneb and paraquat increases PD risk, particularly in younger subjects and/or when exposure occurs at younger ages.
  • In 2011, the National Institutes of Health releases research that shows people who have used the pesticide Paraquat developed Parkinsons disease approximately 2.5 times more often than non-users.
  • Additional studies, published in 2011 and 2012, found that people exposed to Paraquat experienced the greatest increase in PD risk. Our results suggest that pesticides affecting different mechanisms that contribute to dopaminergic neuron death may act together to increase the risk of PD considerably and that people with traumatic brain injuries who were exposed to paraquat faced almost tripled PD risk. .
  • Paraquat Exposure And Parkinsons Disease

    Paraquat Lawsuit â Parkinsonâs Disease Litigation and What You Need to Know

    According to the American Parkinson Disease Association, studies have linked an increased risk of Parkinsons disease in people who were exposed to a rural environment at an early age including:

    • People exposed to farm animals
    • People who live on farms
    • People with known exposure to pesticides
    • People who drink well water
    • People who live in a rural area

    These studies go on to suggest that the uniting factor in these occurrences of Parkinsons disease with people living in rural areas can be traced to exposure to pesticides. In a study of these pesticides, Paraquat was shown to have one of the strongest associations with causing the development of known mechanisms linked to the pathology of Parkinsons disease.

    To see if you qualify for a Paraquat lawsuit, call 1-800-525-7111 for a FREE consultation and claim investigation.

    We are committed to seeking justice for those whose Parkinsons disease was potentially caused by Paraquat.

    If you or a loved one have been exposed to Paraquat and developed Parkinsons disease, call 1-800-525-7111 for a FREE review of your case to see if you may qualify for a Paraquat lawsuit.

    This settlement changed me and my familys lives.

    Linda B., Riddle & Brantley client

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    The Kids Who Find Paradigm

    Paradigm often sees kids who have tried self harm or a suicide attempt. They have been to the hospital theyve tried a partial hospitalization, Dugas said.

    Theyre not doing well, he said. They dont want to go home they dont want to go back to the hospital.

    Many of the kids have more internalized behaviors, Dugas said. Often, theyve been bullied they are introverts. You ask them how they are doing. Fine is the answer, Dugas said.

    Yet, they are self-harming, not doing well in school, not doing well with peers. The pandemic has made it even harder, Dugas said, as routines and human interaction got disrupted.

    The impact of COVID-19 has been devastating to families. Its a cascading impact for children, he said.

    Teens and mental health: Austin parents, are your kids back at school? Watch for signs of mental health struggles

    Paradigm does not treat people with substance abuse. Instead, the focus is on mental health.

    The teens receive daily intensive individual therapy, group therapy and family therapy. Its about 30 hours a week of therapy.

    They are eager to learn something more effective, Dugas said. What they have been trying hasnt been working, and they dont know what else to do.

    Does Positive Attitude Before Parkinsons Impact Life With Parkinsons

    Last week I had the honor to be interviewed by Michael Kiniry, Producer of Gulf Coast Life, a local broadcast of WGCU Public Radio based in Ft. Myers, Florida. This is the second time I have joined Mike during Parkinsons Awareness month, and with 9,000 people or more with a PD diagnosis residing in SW Florida, Parkinsons is on a lot of peoples mind this month.

    I was joined in the interview by Dr. Ramon Gil, a local neurologist, and Medical Director of the Parkinsons Treatment Center of Southwest Florida. Dr. Gil discussed current advancements in the treatment and diagnosis of Parkinsons and highlighted the importance of exercise and education as the two most important adjuncts to proper medical treatment.

    I discussed the importance of enrolling in speech therapy soon after one receives a diagnosis of PD, emphasizing that early enrollment in therapy allows you to learn exercises which may help to strengthen and preserve communication and swallowing function. I also discussed the benefit of community-based programs, of which we are fortunate to have many here in SW Florida, and which serve an important role in providing care-partner and peer support and a host of programs supporting the body and mind.

    To listen to the full 30 minute interview which airs live April 13, 2021 at 1pm and 9pm ET, and will available to listen to at a later time. Just click on the link:

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