Saturday, March 16, 2024
Saturday, March 16, 2024
HomeCauseParkinson's Caused By Herbicide

Parkinson’s Caused By Herbicide

Hold Paraquat Manufacturers Accountable

Is Parkinson’s disease related to pesticide use? | DW Documentary

The bad thing about paraquat exposure is that companies knew about its link with Parkinson’s. Still, they continued to make and sell the herbicide. Therefore, paraquat Parkinson’s lawsuits can hold these companies accountable for being negligent.

The herbicide manufacturers knew about Paraquat’s potential links to Parkinson’s. However, they did not warn farmers, landscapers, or other people who used the herbicide about its side effects.

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.

Paraquat Herbicide And Parkinsons Disease

May. 22, 2022

There is a body of peer reviewed scientific evidence has positively identified exposure to a herbicide called paraquat, which is widely used for weed and grass control, be implicated in changes in the brain associated with the symptoms of Parkinsons disease.

Exposure to paraquat can occur through direct use and application, or simply by proximity to areas which have been treated.

In America, litigation is already underway against some of the manufacturers of paraquat products, including Syngenta, Chevron and Growmark. Those proceedings allege, amongst other things, that the paraquat products made by those manufacturers were defectively designed and did not perform safely because of the likelihood that their use and absorption would lead to neurodegenerative disease including Parkinsons disease.

It is also alleged that the manufacturers negligently failed to carry out adequate research and testing in relation to the impact of paraquat and failed to provide adequate warning of its risks.

Australian Law firm, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers is investigating the link between paraquat and the development of Parkinsons disease.

You may wish to contact Maurice Blackburn Lawyers if you have been exposed to paraquat and you think that you have experienced neurodegenerative changes, such as the development of a resting tremor or a slowing of speech or movement, or you have been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease.

Read Also: Does Parkinson’s Cause Insomnia

Do Pesticides Cause Parkinsons

I recently heard that pesticides cause Parkinsons disease. If this is true, can you tell me whether buying organic fruits and vegetables provides adequate protection? My mother had Parkinsons so I worry about this disease a lot.

Andrew Weil, M.D. | August 30, 2013

Parkinsons disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide behind Alzheimers disease. Parkinsons affects nerve cells in the part of the mid-brain known as the substantia nigra, responsible for muscle movement. Symptoms include tremors, rigidity, slow movements and balance problems that worsen over time. Parkinson patients often exhibit signs of depression and may eventually develop cognitive problems, including dementia. But although PD may result in disability, the disease often moves slowly, and most people have a number of years of only minor disability following a diagnosis.

For some time, experts have believed that unusual exposure to herbicides and pesticides increase the risk of developing Parkinsons disease. The latest word on this subject comes from Italian researchers who reviewed 104 studies from around the world and concluded that exposure to pesticides, bug and weed killers and solvents appears to be associated with a 33 to 80 percent increase in the risk of developing PD. The investigators also reported that in controlled studies, exposure to specific chemical compounds including paraquat, a weed killer, and two fungicides, maneb and mancozeb, doubled the risk.

Glyphosate Boosts Parkinsons Risk

Herbicide Paraquat Again Linked Parkinson

In a 2018 study, researchers from Brazils University of Campinas tested 10 commercial brands of infant formulas. They found glyphosate residues at levels ranging from .02 to .17 milligrams per kg. in the formulas. The researchers linked the glyphosate and its metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid to Parkinsons:

Recently, glyphosate and its metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid have been identified as possible contributors to the emergence of various diseases such as autism, Parkinsons and Alzheimers diseases, as well as cancer.

Glyphosate has been linked to Parkinsons in other studies. A 2013 study found that because glyphosate inhibits the P450 enzymes, and it builds up in tissues, it damages cells and produces brain toxicity.

A 2006 study followed 55,931 people who worked in agriculture. They found those who handled pesticides and herbicides the most had about double the risk of Parkinsons disease.

Also Check: How To Care For A Person With Parkinson’s Disease

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
  • Tank fillers

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 Parkinsons Disease Be Prevented

Sadly, no.

It is not possible to prevent Parkinsons disease, but some believe that lifelong healthy habits may reduce ones risk of developing the condition. Some medications may also relieve some of its symptoms.

In some PD patients, particularly those who are at the late stage of the disease, surgery may be an option to help improve symptoms.

Some experts also advise doing rpeventive measures such as wearing gloves and other protectvie equipment when applying pesticides as it may help protect you against the disease.

Also Check: Do Parkinson’s Patients Shake In Their Sleep

Paraquat Weed Killer Found To Be Linked To Parkinsons Disease

The Environmental Protection Agency has found evidence linking exposure to paraquat dichloride, an herbicide colloquially known as paraquat, to the development of Parkinsons disease later in life, per a 2016 regulatory filing. Now, agricultural workers who have been exposed to this toxic chemical may have the right to file lawsuits against paraquat manufacturers for financial compensation.

As reported by the National Law Review, many countries have effectively banned paraquat due to its high level of toxicity. While this toxicity was previously only known in relation to its use in suicides — one sip has proven lethal time and again, per reports from The New York Times — several journals have recently published peer-reviewed studies showing a link between paraquat and Parkinsons disease. The American Journal of Epidemiology, the Journal of the American Medical Association Neurology, and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences are among the reputable sources that have published such findings.

Despite this research, paraquat remains legal to use in the United States — even as the same research has compelled dozens of countries around the world to ban this herbicide. Whats worse, the National Water-Quality Assessment Project reported that its use in the U.S. only doubled between 2006 and 2016.

Benomyl Blocks Brain Cell Processes

Parkinson’s Disease Lawsuit – Paraquat Herbicide

Meanwhile, researchers from UCLAs David Geffen School of Medicine found that the fungicide Benomyl will block multiple cell processes. One of these blocks the production of aldehyde dehydrogenase .

ALDH increases the dopamine metabolite 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde, which produces degeneration among neurons associated with the production of dopamine. One of the central dopamine-producing centers exists in the brain the substantia nigra located within the midbrain.

When the nerve cells located in this region die off or become otherwise deranged, they stop producing dopamine and other neurotransmitters that help control coordination and movement throughout the body. A lack of these neurotransmitters will produce the shakiness and eventual loss of coordination characteristic amongst progressed Parkinsons patients.

Read Also: How Quickly Does Parkinson’s Disease Progress

Paraquat And Parkinsons Disease

Previous research has associated both paraquat and another common weed killer called Maneb with an increased risk of Parkinsons disease. In 2018, researchers from the University of Guelph in Ontario decided to look closely at this association. They found that low-level exposure to the pesticides disrupts cells in a way that mimics the effects of mutations known to cause Parkinsons disease. Adding the effects of the chemicals to a predisposition for Parkinsons disease drastically increases the risk of disease onset, they concluded.

A systematic review of paraquat-related literature conducted by researchers in 2019 also found that Parkinsons occurrence was 25% higher in individuals exposed to the herbicide and even higher in those who were exposed to the chemical for more extended periods of time.

Another comprehensive study investigating exposure to 31 pesticides and their association with Parkinsons risk found paraquat to be one of the most concerning weed killers among the group. Paraquat works by producing intracellular molecules that cause oxidative stress and damage cells. Interestingly, oxidative stress is a common theme in understanding what causes the death of nerve cells in people with Parkinsons disease.

Yet another study revealed that people exposed to paraquat in their teens through young adult years had a 200% to 600% increased risk of developing Parkinsons, depending on the overall number of years of exposure.

How Are People Exposed To Paraquat

Users are exposed to paraquat when they handle the herbicide. Even if they take the necessary precautions, however, other farm workers and nearby residents can be exposed to paraquat through the air. Paraquat can also be transferred onto farm workers clothing, finding its way into peoples homes, where it can wind up on furniture, on carpets and in laundry hampers. It puts entire communities in farm country at risk.

Recommended Reading: Can Dogs Get Parkinson’s Disease

Rural Living And An Increased Risk Of Pd

In the 1980s, studies were conducted that showed that early-age exposure to a rural environment as well as exposure to well water were associated with development of PD later in life. Subsequently, multiple additional studies looked at these questions. The studies are mixed in their conclusions, but overall the evidence supports associations between increased PD risk with each of the following:

  • farming as an occupation,
  • well water drinking, and
  • living in a rural area.

Of course, all these categories are inter-related, since farmers live on farms in rural areas, are exposed to farm animals, are more likely than urban dwellers to drink well water and use pesticides. The studies were attempting to tease out why rural environments increased the risk of PD. Do only those who actually farm have an increased risk or is it enough to live on a farm? Is pesticide exposure the reason for the increased risk? Well water exposure? Exposure to farm animals? Or is it another element of rural life?

In the end, epidemiologic data supports the assertion that each of these elements increases the risk of PD. Of note, all of the increased risks in these studies are small on the order of 1.5-2 times the risk of the general population.

Does Roundup Have Paraquat

Parkinsonism

Roundup does not contain paraquat, but commercial agriculture workers may use both types of herbicide. As more weeds become resistant to Roundup, farmers often turn to paraquat.

Paraquat is considered many times more toxic than Roundup, but its main ingredient glyphosate is linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The EPA hasnt restricted Roundup use to licensed applicators, and its available for homeowner use.

Recommended Reading: What Is The Difference Between Alzheimer’s And Parkinson’s Disease

Who Can File A Paraquat Lawsuit

Anyone who has been exposed to paraquat and developed Parkinsons disease may decide to file a claim, but contacting a lawyer is the only way to be sure you qualify.

Some types of paraquat exposure are more difficult to determine than others, but an experienced attorney can help prove your case.

People who may qualify to file a paraquat lawsuit include:

  • Agricultural workers including farmers, licensed paraquat applicators, growers, pickers and landscapers
  • People who live near farmland sprayed with paraquat
  • Anyone who works around commercial weed killers and pesticides

Did you develop Parkinsons disease after exposure to paraquat?

What Causes Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons disease is a chronic, progressive neurological disease that currently affects about 1 million Americans. Parkinsons disease involves a small, dark-tinged portion of the brain called the substantia nigra. This is where you produce most of the dopamine your brain uses. Dopamine is the chemical messenger that transmits messages between nerves that control muscle movements as well as those involved in the brains pleasure and reward centers. As we age, its normal for cells in the substantia nigra to die. This process happens in most people at a very slow rate.

But for some people, the loss happens rapidly, which is the start of Parkinsons disease. When 50 to 60 percent of the cells are gone, you begin to see the symptoms of Parkinsons.

Also Check: Why Does Parkinson’s Affect Speech

Cause Of Parkinsons Disease

Until recently, scientists believed that Parkinsons was caused by errors in genes. Environmental exposures were not considered. Today, epidemiologists understand that a combination of genetic and environmental factors are a driving force.

Defense attorneys will argue that men are predisposed to Parkinsons. It is true that men are 1.5 times more likely than women to develop this disease. But historically, men have worked with pesticides and herbicides more than women. Thus, the exposures to herbicides play a significant role in skewing the numbers.

Companies who manufacture and distribute paraquat and 2,4-D try to muddy the waters. But the connection between paraquat and 2,4-D and Parkinsons gets clearer with every published, peer-reviewed study. When certain genes are exposed to chemicals in pesticides and herbicides, Parkinsons can develop.

What Is The Causal Effect Between Paraquat Herbicide And Parkinsons

Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms, Treatment, Nursing Care, Pathophysiology NCLEX Review

Paraquat may have been considered the holy grail of herbicides cheap and potent in the 60s and even later, but in time, more and more studies have demonstrated the undeniable and tragic link between paraquat and Parkinsons disease. Unfortunately, unwanted grass and weeds were not the only things that paraquat destroyed. Paraquat has a similar chemical structure with an active metabolite called 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine . This metabolite is shown to cause lesions in the substantia nigra, pars compacta region of the brain in rats, leading to Parkinsons disease.

According to the Yonsei Medical Journal, it seems that paraquat accounts for 20 deaths per million people. This statistic does not include people who developed Parkinsons as a result of using paraquat or being indirectly exposed to paraquat by living near farms that use this herbicide on a regular basis.

You May Like: How To Use Hemp Oil For Parkinson’s

What Is Parkinsons Disease

Parkinsons disease is a neurodegenerative disorder in which nerve cells in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra dont produce enough of the neurotransmitter dopamine, according to the Parkinsons Foundation. Not having enough dopamine is what causes the movement symptoms that distinguish Parkinsons disease, including tremors, limb rigidity, and gait problems.

Although it is a movement disorder, Parkinsons disease can bring about non-movement symptoms that include cognitive impairment, depression, sleep disorders, and constipation, according to the Parkinsons Foundation.

Parkinsons disease is a progressive disorder. This means the disease gets worse over time. Although Parkinsons disease is incurable, its symptoms are treatable. Data from some clinical research trials suggest that there is hope to slow Parkinsons disease progression through early intervention, although theres not enough data to conclusively demonstrate that this is possible, according to The American Journal of Managed Care.

Is Something Being Done

The EPA has set a standard safe limit of TCE in drinking water at a maximum concentration of five parts per billion .

In 2020, the hazardous substance has been banned in Minnesota and in New York, after the dangers of its use have been discovered in military bases and manufacturing plants in the states.

However, up to this day, the EPA estimates that 250 million pounds of TCE are still being used annually in the U.S. This, despite the adverse health effects of TCE being documented as early as 1932 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

With these several risk factors being considered to cause Parkinsons disease, families of PD patients should be aware that the root cause of the disease may now extend beyond genetics, and may include environmental risk factors as well.

It is believed that individual Parkinsons disease cases may result from a combination of factors including genetic, environmental, and lifestyle. However, to this day, experts are still on the hunt for a cure to this neurological disorder. Most of them also seem to agree that more research needs to be done in order to identify other potential factors that may be causing a PD patient to develop Parkinsons.

Don’t Miss: Can You Get Parkinson’s From Drinking

RELATED ARTICLES

Popular Articles