Paraquat, known by the brand name Gramoxone and others, is one of the most widely used herbicides on the market. Recent studies have found that individuals exposed to paraquat have an up to 2.5 times greater risk of developing Parkinson’s disease compared to people who were not exposed to the herbicide. The primary routes of paraquat exposure are during the preparation, application, and post-application of this herbicide. Our attorneys are investigating cases of Parkinson’s disease among users of Paraquat.

Are you a user of Paraquat? Have you been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease? If so, you could be entitled to significant compensation for this egregious injury.

The attorneys at KR Law have a long, prolific history of winning mass torts for our clients. We have decades of experience navigating and managing MDLs, which can be complex and challenging.

What is Paraquat?

Paraquat is a popular weed-killing herbicide that is strictly limited to commercial use due to its high toxicity. Paraquat, also referred to as paraquat dichloride, was registered as an herbicide in the United States in 1964. It is used to control grass and weeds in many agriculture and non-agriculture sites. It’s also applied pre-harvest on some crops. It is used on plants that have become resistant to Roundup and other glyphosate-containing weed killers. Paraquat is one of the most widely used industrial herbicides on the market despite being banned in 32 countries around the world due to its high toxicity. Because of its commercial success, there are many brands of Paraquat on the market. One of the most popular is Gramoxone, manufactured by Swiss-based agrichemical corporation Syngenta. U.S. farmers currently use more than 8 million pounds of Paraquat each year on crops such as peanuts, citrus, wheat, soy, corn, almonds, artichokes, garlic, pears, strawberries, grapes, sweet potatoes, and cotton.

Since Paraquat is highly restricted, most people at risk for paraquat exposure are those who apply, mix, or load the weed killer, including:

• Farmers and farmworkers
• Agriculture workers
• Crop dusters
• Herbicide applicators
• Chemical mixers
• Tank fillers

Usage data shows areas of heavy usage and exposure to paraquat.

Estimated Agricultural Use for Paraquat 2017

Is Paraquat in the herbicide Roundup?

No, Monsanto’s Roundup does not contain Paraquat. Roundup’s active ingredient is glyphosate. Exposure to glyphosate has been linked to cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Paraquat exposure is linked to Parkinson’s disease.

How has the EPA responded to this issue?

• In 1997, the EPA confirmed that the primary route of exposure to Paraquat occurred during the weed killer’s preparation, application, and post-application.
• In 2016, the EPA restricted the use of Paraquat to minimize accidental ingestions and reduce exposure to workers who mix, load, and apply Paraquat.
• In 2017, the agency began its review of Paraquat.
• In 2019, the EPA conducted a human health risk assessment.
• In October 2020, the EPA proposed new measures to better protect human health and the environment from the dangers of Paraquat.

Where does that leave me?

With more people becoming aware of the link between Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease, paraquat lawsuits have been mounting against companies that manufacture the herbicide, including Syngenta, Growmark, and Chevron Corporation. More than a dozen lawsuits across the U.S. have been filed against Syngenta as well as Chevron corporation, which held the rights to sell paraquat in the 1960s under an agreement with a company that was eventually purchased by Syngenta.

Paraquat lawsuits allegations include:

• Failure to adequately research the link between Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease
• Failure to warn consumers about the Parkinson’s risks associated with paraquat exposure
• Failure to ensure that workers received adequate protection against the potential side effects of Paraquat
• Misrepresenting the safety of Paraquat for decades
• Negligently disregarding the potential paraquat risks

Plaintiffs allege that the herbicide is defective and unreasonably dangerous and that exposure to Paraquat likely causes neurological damage associated with Parkinson’s disease. Many of the lawsuits accuse paraquat manufacturers of failing to warn users about the risks associated with the weed killer.

Are you ready to pursue justice and get financially compensated for your injuries caused by Paraquat? Contact us today for a free case evaluation.