Paraquat Can Kill Instantly
One study on the paraquat link to Parkinson’s found that 3 of 544 cases of Parkinson’s 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 Parkinson’s disease through long-term exposure.
Over time, slowed mobility and stiffness develop in the patient. Parkinson’s disease gradually progresses since it has five stages. The earlier stages are less noticeable, but the victim’s quality of life and mobility suffer as they go to the later stages.
Here are some motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s 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 Parkinson’s disease.
What If I Carry The Gene
There are ongoing clinical trials testing therapies to treat people who have Parkinson’s and carry certain gene mutations. Proving that it can be important to know which gene mutation you carry. Consult with your doctor when considering a genetic test to determine if you are eligible to participate in gene-based clinical trials.
The Parkinsons Foundation study, PD GENEration: Mapping the Future of Parkinsons Disease, is the first national study to offer genetic testing and counseling at no cost for those with a confirmed Parkinsons diagnosis. Learn more and enroll.
If I have Parkinson’s will my child get it too? Will I inherit Parkinson’s if my parent or grandparent has it?
Most people with Parkinson’s have no known genetic link. Their children will likely never develop Parkinson’s. There are some known genetic variations that increase the risk of getting Parkinson’s, but most people with these variations do not get Parkinson’s. Like many other diseases, Parkinson’s is a result of a complex interaction between genes and environmental factors.
In a small number of people , Parkinson’s is inherited and can affect multiple family members. Their children may have a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s. However, there is no guarantee they will develop PD.
Should I take an at-home genetics test to see if I will get Parkinson’s?
What if I take a genetic test and learn I carry a Parkinson’s gene?
Am I more likely to get Parkinson’s because of my genes or environment?
Consider A Roundup Lawyer
If you believe that you developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma, or any other serious medical condition as a direct result of your exposure to Roundup or any other chemical that contained glyphosate, consider visiting with our legal team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm. Contact us today by calling . There are several ways you may have the ability to receive compensation for your injuries related to the use of Roundup. We can help you understand how a Roundup or glyphosate lawyer can help you determine your next steps.
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What Causes Parkinsons Disease
The most prominent signs and symptoms of Parkinsons disease occur when nerve cells in the basal ganglia, an area of the brain that controls movement, become impaired and/or die. Normally, these nerve cells, or neurons, produce an important brain chemical known as dopamine. When the neurons die or become impaired, they produce less dopamine, which causes the movement problems associated with the disease. Scientists still do not know what causes the neurons to die.
People with Parkinsons disease also lose the nerve endings that produce norepinephrine, the main chemical messenger of the sympathetic nervous system, which controls many functions of the body, such as heart rate and blood pressure. The loss of norepinephrine might help explain some of the non-movement features of Parkinsons, such as fatigue, irregular blood pressure, decreased movement of food through the digestive tract, and sudden drop in blood pressure when a person stands up from a sitting or lying position.
Many brain cells of people with Parkinsons disease contain Lewy bodies, unusual clumps of the protein alpha-synuclein. Scientists are trying to better understand the normal and abnormal functions of alpha-synuclein and its relationship to genetic mutations that impact Parkinsons andLewy body dementia.
Risk Of Paraquat Poisoning
This report revealed scientific studies finding that “paraquat increases the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease.” In addition, the study found a correlation between the toxic chemical and the increased risk of paraquat poisoning and oxidative stress.
In other research by the same team, farmworkers had an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease if exposed to toxic paraquat herbicides for five or more years. This toxic herbicide is widely used and often causes harmful side effects on those exposed to it. Those with Parkinson’s disease should avoid exposure at all costs.
A study conducted in New York as part of the Agricultural Health Study examined whether or not exposure to pesticides, including Paraquat, was connected to Parkinson’s disease.
The study concluded that although there was an association between using the chemical and contracting Parkinson’s disease, other factors might be contributing to this link.
However, that evidence was insufficient to implicate the dangerous chemical as the cause of Parkinson’s disease in humans.
More research is necessary to determine why farmers who use this herbicide are more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. Still, we know that the link exists due to animal and human studies.
This link between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease should draw serious attention. In addition, farmers should consider using other pesticides that don’t have such harmful side effects.
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Paraquat Herbicide Law Firm
If you or someone you know may have been exposed to Paraquat as a farmer, farm worker, herbicide applicator, chemical mixer, tank filler, agricultural pilot, or if you lived near crops treated with the dangerous herbicide, Cory Watson Attorneys will fight to get you the compensation you need for your injuries and suffering. Call now at 877-562-0000 or fill out our free consultation form. The lawyers at Cory Watson will evaluate your case 100% free of charge.
Cory Watsons dedicated, experienced lawyers have handled thousands of dangerous chemical lawsuits for decades, and we believe you shouldnt have to pay for a companys negligence. Our legal team is ready to help you get the compensation you deserve for the suffering you have gone through.
ABOUT CORY WATSON ATTORNEYS
Cory Watson Attorneys is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm with offices in Birmingham, Alabama as well as Memphis, and Nashville, Tennessee. The firm has recovered more than $3 billion for clients across the country. Cory Watson Attorneys are frequently at the forefront of major class actions and multidistrict litigations involving product liability related to serious injuries from defective products and are often appointed to leadership positions in national cases. Firm practice areas include Personal Injury, Product Liability, Class Action, Asbestos, Business & Commercial Litigation, Dangerous Pharmaceuticals, Defective Medical Devices, and Environmental/Toxic Torts.
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.
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The Ghosts Of Pesticides Past
Over the past half century, we have begun to identify the worst risks and address them. The insecticide DDT was once considered a miracle compound. In the 1930s, the Swiss chemist Paul Hermann Müller was looking for a chemical that could kill insects that were destroying crops and spreading diseasewithout harming the plants. Müller, a nature lover, tested hundreds of chemicals before coating the inside of a glass box with DDT, a colorless, tasteless, and almost odorless nerve toxin. He placed houseflies into the container, and they bit the dust. Müller had found his answer.
In the 1940s DDT was considered harmless to humans and regularly sprayed on neighborhoods here children play in the sprays at the beach in New York. Even though DDT was banned half a century ago, it persists in the environmentand in our food supply. It becomes more concentrated as it makes its way up the chain to human consumption. The pesticide is then stored in fatty tissues, including the brain. DDT has been linked to Parkinsons disease. Because of the widespread use of the pesticide, DDT and its breakdown products are detectable in nearly everyone in the United States. It has also been found in the breast milk of women living in Spain, Nicaragua, Taiwan, and the Spanish Canary Islands as recently as 2014.
Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo
We eat fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains every day that have been doused in pesticides. What kind of risk are we all exposed to? We do not know.
Has Anything Changed Over Time
Since most of the studies concerning PD and rural living were done decades ago, a recent study sought to revisit this issue since farming life has changed in recent times. Pesticide use is reduced, there has been a large migration from rural to urban areas, and there is less dependence on well water in rural communities.
The new study was conducted in Finland and looked at the incidence of PD in rural versus urban areas. Interestingly, rural living remained a risk factor for PD. It is possible that current diagnoses of PD continue to reflect the environmental exposures of decades ago, and that risk reduction in rural areas due to decreased pesticide use and other changes in farming life may show more benefits in the future. However, the study suggests that we may not yet fully understand how the rural environment affects Parkinsons risk.
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Enzymes Interacting With The Herbicide
Paraquat is known to cause Parkinson’s disease because it targets the mitochondria in our cells, which generate the necessary energy for the proper functioning of the body.
This herbicide interacts with one of these enzymes called cytochrome P450 in the mitochondria . As a result, it interrupts the process, which creates energy.
Unfortunately, the mitochondria cannot create energy, so they will shut down and cause cell death, and in some cases, lead to Parkinson’s. It has been found that rats exposed to Paraquat developed Parkinsonism.
This herbicide interacts with enzymes in the body, especially those involved in Parkinson’s. Consequently, this leads to cell death and neuron damage, which are signs of this devastating illness.
Can Roundup Cause Hodgkins Lymphoma
Roundup is not generally linked with Hodgkins lymphoma. Glyphosate has, however, been linked to Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. According to findings published in Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research , cases of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma increased by 41% in individuals with high rates of exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides.
These findings suggest that people with high exposure to products containing glyphosate have a higher risk of developing Non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society explains that leukemia affects your blood cells and bone marrow. This illness causes changes in your bone marrow cells, ultimately stifling the growth of normal, healthy cells.
The LLS lists several different forms of leukemia that have been tied to glyphosate exposure, including:
- Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia
- B-cell prolymphocytic leukemia
- Large granular lymphocytic leukemia
These and other forms of leukemia will likely require many specific considerations in terms of treatment. If you have not already, you should speak with your doctor about the implications of your leukemia diagnosis. You may also discuss whether exposure to glyphosate could be the cause of your cancer diagnosis.
Call the Law Offices of Anidjar & Levine today at for a free consultation about gaining the assistance of a Roundup lawyer.
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Can I File A Claim Against Roundup For A Loved Ones Death
You may file a claim against Roundup if it was a contributor to your loved ones passing. Depending on your case, you may have the right to take legal action against the parties responsible for your loved ones death. The grounds of your claim may be based on the principles of negligence, wrongful action, or breach of contract or warranty.
One or more of these standards may apply in the case of your loved ones passing. The manufacturer and seller of Roundup, as well as other parties that may share liability, could be responsible for your loved ones passing. If your case succeeds, you could be entitled to compensation for various wrongful death-related damages.
The circumstances of who may be entitled to compensation for wrongful death and what exactly constitutes wrongful death may vary from one Roundup-related case to another. A lawyer and their team may provide more details regarding your situation after reviewing the facts of your case.
Secret Files Suggest Chemical Giant Feared Weedkillers Link To Parkinsons Disease
Exclusive: Documents seen by Guardian detail effort to refute scientific research into paraquat and derail nomination of key EPA adviser
For decades, the Swiss chemical giant Syngenta has manufactured and marketed a widely used weedkilling chemical called paraquat, and for much of that time the company has been dealing with external concerns that long-term exposure to the chemical may be a cause of the incurable brain ailment known as Parkinsons disease.
Syngenta has repeatedly told customers and regulators that scientific research does not prove a connection between its weedkiller and the disease, insisting that the chemical does not readily cross the blood-brain barrier, and does not affect brain cells in ways that cause Parkinsons.
But a cache of internal corporate documents dating back to the 1950s reviewed by the Guardian suggests that the public narrative put forward by Syngenta and the corporate entities that preceded it has at times contradicted the companys own research and knowledge.
And though the documents reviewed do not show that Syngentas scientists and executives accepted and believed that paraquat can cause Parkinsons, they do show a corporate focus on strategies to protect product sales, refute external scientific research and influence regulators.
Chevron USA said the company does not believe that had any role in causing the plaintiffs illnesses and will vigorously defend against the allegations in the lawsuits.
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A Discussion Of How Environmental Factors Such As Pesticides May Affect Your Risk Of Parkinsons Disease
During my recent interview on Wisconsin Public Radio, many of the callers asked questions related to environmental risks of Parkinsons disease , specifically, exposures related to farming. Those calls prompted me to delve further into this complicated and murky topic.
Before we start discussing specific factors in the environment that may increase risk of PD, lets understand some basic ground rules that will help put this topic in perspective
With that background, let us begin.
Legal Action Taken Against Monsanto And Bayer
In response to such health problems associated with exposure to Roundup, many people have taken legal action against Monsanto and Bayer. In recent years, these legal battles have been successful for many people harmed by Roundup and resulted in several multi-million-dollar verdicts.
One of the biggest obstacles to taking legal action against Monsanto and Bayer was removed in July 2018. Thats when U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria rejected Monsantos request to have hundreds of lawsuits which had been filed against the company by people claiming they have cancer due to exposure to Roundup thrown out.
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Exposure To Pesticides In The Military
Agent Orange was an herbicide that US troops sprayed in Vietnam from 1961-1971 to kill trees and crops that provided protection and food to the rival army. It is a mixture of two chemicals: 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Agent Orange was also contaminated with Dioxin, a chemical even more damaging than Agent Orange itself, since it is very long-lasting.
The effects of Agent Orange on both the Vietnamese population and on American soldiers has been studied extensively, but with much variability in the results. Birth defects have been attributed to Agent Orange exposure, as well as multiple types of cancer.
With the understanding that the Veteran community served selflessly on behalf of the American people and therefore deserve the protection and support of the American government, the Agent Orange Act was passed in 1991, allowing the Department of Veteran Affairs to declare certain conditions presumptive to exposure to Agent Orange, even if the scientific data associating Agent Orange with that condition was not airtight.
The list of conditions has grown over the years, and in 2010, PD was added. Read here about how veterans who may have been exposed to Agent Orange and have subsequently developed PD are eligible for VA healthcare and disability compensation. APDA offers a free booklet specifically for veterans to help them find the care and support they need.