Home » Paraquat / Gramoxone Herbicide » Paraquat / Gramoxone Lawsuit

Paraquat / Gramoxone Lawsuit

• More on Paraquat / Gramoxone Herbicide
  • Paraquat / Gramoxone Lawsuit

Paraquat may have contributed to the development of Parkinson’s disease among farmers, agricultural workers, and landscape professionals.  Filing a Paraquat / Gramoxone lawsuit may be an option for anyone allegedly harmed by this herbicide.

Contact a Paraquat Lawyer Today

The nationwide law firm of Bernstein Liebhard LLP is investigating the possible association between Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease. If you’re interested in filing a Paraquat / Gramoxone lawsuit, please contact our office today through the form on this page, or call us directly at (888) 994-5118.

About Paraquat

Paraquat has been around for roughly 130 years, but wasn’t widely used until the mid-20^th century.

Marketed by Syngenta under the brand-name Gramoxone, Paraquat is now one of the most popular herbicides in the world. However, because of health concerns surrounding its use, the European Union and more than 30  countries have imposed Paraquat bans. China also began phasing out Paraquat in 2012.

While Paraquat is sold the United States, it’s classified as a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The regulator limits Paraquat to agricultural or commercial settings and only allows specially certified personnel to apply the herbicide.

Paraquat and Parkinson’s Disease

For more than 20 years, scientific studies have pointed to an association between Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease.  One of the most influential was published by the National Institutes of Health in 2011, and suggested that people who used Paraquat developed the debilitating disorder nearly 2.5 times more often than non-users.

In 2012, findings from a study called  Genetic Modification of the Association of Paraquat and Parkinson’s Disease indicated that individuals with a specific genetic variation were 11 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s when exposed to Paraquat. Additional research published that same year found that Paraquat exposure might increase the risk of Parkinson’s among people with traumatic brain injuries.

Results of a 2013 meta-analysis published in Neurology  linked Paraquat with a 2-fold increased risk for Parkinson’s.

Most recently, a study conducted by the University of Guelph in Canada found that low-level exposure to Paraquat disrupts cells in a way that mimics the effects of genetic mutations known to cause Parkinson’s disease. According to the authors, adding the effects of the herbicide to a predisposition for Parkinson’s drastically increases the risk of disease onset.

About Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive, neurological disorder that affects movement. It occurs when neurons responsible for producing dopamine break down and die. Falling dopamine levels eventually trigger its debilitating symptoms.

The early signs of Parkinson’s disease often go unnoticed and generally affect just one side of the body. In most cases, symptoms will remain worse on that side, even as the disorder begins to impact the entire body.

The signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include:

• Tremor: Shaking that usually begins in a limb, often the hand or fingers.
• Slowed movement (bradykinesia): Walking strides become shorter, it may be difficult to get out of a chair, and some victims will drag their feet as they walk.
• Rigid muscles: Muscle stiffness can occur in any part of the body.
• Impaired posture and balance: Stooped posture and problems with balance are common.
• Loss of automatic movements: Impaired ability to perform unconscious movements, like blinking or smiling
• Speech changes: Many Parkinson’s disease sufferers speak softly, quickly, slur, or hesitate before talking. Their speech is often monotone and lacks the usual inflections.
• Writing changes: Difficulty writing, handwriting becomes small.

It’s not clear what causes Parkinson’s disease, but certain gene variations may be associated with an increased risk. Environmental factors, including exposure to Paraquat and certain other pesticides, also play a role in its development.

Learn More About Filing a Paraquat / Gramoxone Lawsuit

In October 2017, the first Paraquat / Gramoxone lawsuit was filed in the United State on behalf of farmers and other agricultural workers who blame the herbicide for causing Parkinson’s disease. Similar lawsuits are now pending in courts throughout the nation.

You may be entitled to significant financial compensation if you or a loved one developed Parkinson’s disease following Paraquat exposure:

• Past and future medical bills
• Past and future lost wages
• Permanent disability
• Pain and suffering
• Emotional distress
• More

To learn more about filing a Paraquat lawsuit, please give our attorneys a call today, at (888) 994-5118.