Paraquat Lawsuit Attorneys

Paraquat lawsuits and Rotenone lawsuits

Paraquat Lawsuit Attorneys at Pribanic & Pribanic can help you get the compensation you deserve if you’ve been exposed to Paraquat or Rotenone and have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

“Paraquat is highly toxic to humans; one small accidental sip can be fatal and there is no antidote.”

– U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Paraquat Lawsuits & Rotenone Lawsuits: Who Can File?

People who may have a Paraquat (or Rotenone) case are the following:

• Agricultural workers such as farmers, licensed paraquat applicators, growers, pickers and landscapers

• Residents who live near farmland sprayed with paraquat

• Anyone who works with or around commercial weed killers and pesticides

• State or federal agency workers who’ve handled these products in the field  

As of June 2021, there were 157 cases pending in state and federal courts around the country against Syngenta (the herbicide manufacturer) regarding Paraquat. The plaintiffs claim Syngenta was aware of the health risks associated with Paraquat but failed to warn users.

“If you believe you’re a victim of Paraquat or Rotenone, Pribanic & Pribanic has experienced Paraquat Parkinson’s disease attorneys are ready to help: call 800-392-4529.

Paraquat, Rotenone Connection to Parkinson’s Disease 

A Des Moines Register story published in May 2021 highlights the actions of an Iowa farmer who led  a nationwide lawsuit against the manufacturers of Paraquat for its connection to Parkinson’s Disease. 

Parkinson’s Disease is a generative disease of the central nervous system affecting movement. While some Parkinson’s Disease diagnoses are attributed to genetics, it is becoming more widely understood that environmental factors and toxins, such as herbicides and pesticides, are also strongly linked to the disease.  

While the CDC does not list acute symptoms of toxicity for Rotenone on its website, studies into Rotenone and Paraquat have revealed links to Parkinson’s Disease. 

A 2011 study by the National Institutes of Health found “significant associations of Parkinson’s Disease with use of groups of pesticides classified as complex I inhibitors or as oxidative stressors.”

In particular, the study found Parkinson’s Disease was strongly associated with Rotenone and Paraquat, stating that “people who used either pesticide developed Parkinson’s disease approximately 2.5 times more often than non-users.” That means users are on average 250% more likely to develop Parkinson’s Disease. 

Similarly, the results of a Nature Neuroscience study published in 2000, found that “chronic exposure to a common pesticide [Rotenone] can reproduce the anatomical, neurochemical, behavioral and neuropathological features of Parkinson’s Disease.”

In fact, Paraquat and Rotenone are routinely used in research as one of the ways to induce and study Parkinson’s Disease in animal models.

Testimonial

“Wonderful group of individuals — that work for you because you are a person not just another case.” ~ Megann

***

Who is at risk of Paraquat Exposure? 

Field and Agricultural workers who have used Paraquat are most likely to feel the effects of exposure with the chemical. 

Since Paraquat is primarily used as a spray, the EPA has claimed it can also pose a threat to bystanders via spray drift, making Paraquat toxic not only to workers, but those living near farms and facilities that use Paraquat products. 

Other herbicides that contain paraquat dichloride are recognizable under brand names like 

• Gramoxone

• Firestorm

• Helmquat

• Parazone

Popular Paraquat Crops include:

• Soybeans

• Cotton

• Corn

• Grapes and other orchards

• Pastures and Hay 

Symptoms of Paraquat Exposure 

According to the CDC, the most likely route of Paraquat exposure is through ingestion. Paraquat poisoning is also possible after skin exposure. Paraquat poisoning via ingestion directly damages the linings of the mouth, throat, stomach and intestines. 

Overtime, exposure to small amounts of Paraquat may lead to heart failure, kidney failure, liver failure, and lung scarring. In general, Paraquat exposure can lead to Paraquat side effects such as:

• Confusion 

• Coma 

• Fast heart rate 

• Muscle weakness 

• Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs) 

• Respiratory (breathing) failure, possibly leading to death 

• Seizures

• Parkinson’s Disease 

Banned in Other Countries 

Over 30 countries worldwide have banned the use of Paraquat.  Paraquat is banned throughout England, the European Union, and China.

Syngenta, the manufacturers of Paraquat, are based in Switzerland, where the use of Paraquat has been banned since 1989. Most of the yield is sent to the United States. Paraquat is still legal in all 50 US states.  

Due to the still rampant use of Paraquat and Paraquat products in the United States, human exposure is not uncommon for those working in or near agricultural or other field industries.

References:

• https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2021/05/19/iowa-farmer-brings-class-action-claim-over-herbicide-banned-other-nations/5142540001/

• https://usrtk.org/paraquat-trial-tracker-index/

• https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/nih-study-finds-two-pesticides-associated-parkinsons-disease

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3114824/

• https://www.nature.com/articles/nn1200_1301

• /

• https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/paraquat/basics/facts.asp

• https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-worker-safety/paraquat-dichloride-one-sip-can-kill

• https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rotenone

• https://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/19971

• https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/idlh/83794.html

• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0005272894901104

• https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyNET.exe/P10013RJ.TXT?ZyActionD=ZyDocument&Client=EPA&Index=2006+Thru+2010&Docs=&Query=&Time=&EndTime=&SearchMethod=1&TocRestrict=n&Toc=&TocEntry=&QField=&QFieldYear=&QFieldMonth=&QFieldDay=&IntQFieldOp=0&ExtQFieldOp=0&XmlQuery=&File=D%3A%5Czyfiles%5CIndex%20Data%5C06thru10%5CTxt%5C00000003%5CP10013RJ.txt&User=ANONYMOUS&Password=anonymous&SortMethod=h%7C-&MaximumDocuments=1&FuzzyDegree=0&ImageQuality=r75g8/r75g8/x150y150g16/i425&Display=hpfr&DefSeekPage=x&SearchBack=ZyActionL&Back=ZyActionS&BackDesc=Results%20page&MaximumPages=1&ZyEntry=1&SeekPage=x&ZyPURL

• https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/paraquat-dichloride  (H5)