Paraquat Lawsuit

Paraquat is a toxic chemical herbicide that was created in the 1960s. It is used worldwide to control weed and grass growth. Companies such as Chevron Chemical Company, Syngenta, Growmark and others have sold paraquat-based herbicides including commonly-purchased Gramoxone (manufactured by Syngenta). Marketed and used for decades in the U.S., paraquat has since been banned in several countries.

Exposure to paraquat has been linked to Parkinson’s disease. Lawsuits have been filed on behalf of farmers and other workers who were exposed to paraquat and subsequently developed the central nervous system disorder. Plaintiffs claim that they were not warned of the alleged dangerous health risks associated with the herbicide.

For over a decade, studies have suggested the increased risk of Parkinson’s disease via paraquat exposure:

• The American Journal of Epidemiology published a study in 2009 suggesting that exposure to paraquat within 1,600 feet increased the risk for Parkinson’s disease by 75%, and that individuals exposed at age 60 or younger were at much higher risk.
• In 2012, researchers from The Parkinson’s Institute published a study suggesting that certain genetic variations may increase the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s after paraquat exposure by as many as 11 times.
• In December 2020, a study was published in Toxicological Sciences analyzing the effects of paraquat on mice. University of Rochester researchers found that when paraquat was inhaled by mice, the chemical accumulated in the brain, and impacted the organ in a way that is similar to the onset of Parkinson’s.

These individuals exposed to paraquat-containing herbicides/pesticides may be at risk for developing Parkinson’s:

• Farmers and farm workers
• Agricultural workers
• Gardeners, groundskeepers
• Chemical mixers, tank fillers, and transporters
• Herbicide applicator workers

If you or a loved one handled or used an herbicide or pesticide containing paraquat and were later diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, you may be legally entitled to compensation.