Why File a Paraquat Lawsuit?
Paraquat, also known as Gramoxone, is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world, especially in the United States. Commercial farmers use it to kill weeds and grasses. However, due to its high toxicity and potential for deadly poisoning, it is been advised that only licensed professionals should use it.
What is Paraquat?
Paraquat is popularly used and sold in concentrated form and is mixed with water and sprayed on crops. It has proven to be very effective at destroying weeds and grasses that are resistant to glyphosate. This situation puts farmers at risk since they come in close contact with the herbicide. The toxic herbicide is also sprayed on industrial farms, exposing people living nearby.
Products containing paraquat are produced by over 377 firms worldwide. One of the most well-known brands in the US is Gramoxone, which is produced by Syngenta.
The very poisonous substance paraquat can have both immediate and long-term negative consequences on one’s health, some of which may be fatal.
Long-term paraquat exposure has also been linked in studies to Parkinson’s disease, a fatal neurological condition that impairs movement and speech.
Long Roots since 1964
Paraquat has its roots in 1964, commercial farmers and other agricultural workers in the United States have been using it to manage exotic weeds and grasses. Commercial crops like cotton, soy, and corn are sprayed with it by applicators.
However, the EPA (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) only permits licensed applicators to use the pesticide for commercial purposes due to its toxicity. There aren’t any paraquat products that can be used at home.
Major Threat for People
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Paraquat is highly toxic to humans; one small accidental sip can be fatal and there is no antidote.”
Although the herbicide is highly effective in killing green plants but has proven to be detrimental to human health, especially to people who apply Paraquat to crops. It is frequent or prolonged exposure can lead to the development of Parkinson’s disease over the years.
Ingestion, inhalation, or cutaneous exposure can all cause acute paraquat poisoning. Accidental ingestion is the primary cause of poisoning in most cases. Poisoning usually results in death, and there is no cure.
Small to moderate doses can harm the lungs, intestines, stomach, or mouth. A high amount swallowed can harm several organs and cause death within hours.
Since there is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, people with the disease have to undergo treatment for the rest of their lives. Researchers theorize it’s caused by the loss of neurons that produce dopamine.
Short-Term Side Effect
Discomfort and swelling in the mouth and throat are the initial signs of acute poisoning after intake. The chemical causes gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea when it enters the stomach.
Within hours to weeks following exposure, there may be catastrophic short-term Parkinson’s symptoms and adverse effects. Some effects are:
- Coma
- Confusion
- Fast heart rate
- Fluid in the lungs
- Gastrointestinal problems (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea)
- Heart failure
- Kidney failure
- Liver failure
- Lung scarring
- Muscle weakness
- Respiratory failure
- Seizures
- Swelling
Long-Term Side Effects
Acute paraquat poisoning survivors frequently experience long-term health issues that impact multiple organs.
Acute symptoms of poisoning may not appear in licensed applicators, farmers, and agricultural workers who have been exposed to paraquat for years. However, they can still experience long-term negative effects from exposure, like a higher risk of getting Parkinson’s disease. Some Parkinson’s disease symptoms are:
- Lung damage
- Lung scarring
- Kidney failure
- Heart failure
- Scarring of the esophagus
- Parkinson’s disease (from long-term exposure)
- Impaired lung function (from long-term exposure)
- Reproductive problems (from long-term exposure)
Settlement in Paraquat Lawsuit
Were you or a loved one diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after exposure to paraquat?
Filing a paraquat parkinson’s lawsuit may help secure settlement to pay for costly medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses due to past and future care. You may also receive settlement for physical and emotional pain and suffering as well as loss of quality of life. The process is called a paraquat settlement.
Spread Awareness & Hold Companies Accountable
Paraquat and its usage have its history in the United States for over 6 decades but companies kept using the highly toxic herbicide anyway, prioritizing their profit over your health. Each year more people use it. Some people use it on the job, while others live near farms that use the toxic weed killer.
Filing a Paraquat class action lawsuit may spread awareness about the dangers of Paraquat and help others who may be at risk.
People who may qualify to file a paraquat lawsuit include:
- Agricultural workers including farmers, licensed paraquat applicators, growers, pickers, and landscapers
- People who live near farmland sprayed with paraquat
- Anyone who works around commercial weed killers and pesticides
Connect2Attorney the best law firm in USA can help you determine what legal options might be open to you and fight to secure the settlement you may be entitled to. We can help you determine your eligibility and work with you through the legal process, hopefully leading to a Paraquat lawsuit settlement.
Connect2Attorney helps law firms manage their Paraquat lawsuit claims if you have:
- Past and future medical and funeral expenses that result from the injuries.
- Past and future pain and suffering (physical and mental) caused by the injuries, and the treatment and recovery process.
- Past and future wage loss and loss of estate (if death occurred).
- Past and future loss of earning capacity.
- Past and future loss of enjoyment of life.
- Punitive damages, if appropriate.