CHARLESTON, S.C. – RPWB attorneys are investigating the cases of farmers, agricultural workers, crop dusters and groundskeepers who developed Parkinson’s disease after using Paraquat weed killer.

Several herbicides contain Paraquat, including: Gramoxone, Ortho-Paraquat, Para-SHOT, Parazone, Quick-Quat, Firestorm and Helmqua.

The herbicides have been used in the United States since 1964, and have come under increased scrutiny in recent years as science linked the inhalation of Paraquat to Parkinson’s disease. A December 2020 study, published in the journal Toxicological Sciences, confirmed that inhaling Paraquat gives it a direct pathway to the brain. Once in the brain, studies have shown Paraquat damages or impairs dopamine receptors.

Parkinson’s disease occurs when nerve cells in an area of the brain that controls movement become impaired or die. Normally, these neurons produce dopamine. When the neurons die or become impaired, they produce less dopamine, which causes the movement problems of Parkinson’s.

Currently, about 25 lawsuits alleging Paraquat as the cause of a plaintiff’s Parkinson’s disease have been filed throughout the country. An application to consolidate Paraquat Parkinson’s Disease lawsuits in a single federal court is pending before the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation.

The use of Paraquat in the United States continues to this day even though other countries such as China and the European Union have already banned their use. The herbicide is typically used to control weeds in agricultural settings, but is also used on golf courses and in grounds maintenance at large facilities such as industrial sites, schools and parks.

In October 2020, the EPA proposed new guidelines that would limit the use of Paraquat weed killers, including a prohibition of aerial application (except for cotton desiccation), requiring enclosed cabs and respirators, and creating a longer re-entry waiting period.

If you or a loved one was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after repeated exposure to Paraquat weed killers, please contact us for a free, no obligation case review. RPWB’s toxic exposure team has a wealth of experience representing workers exposed to asbestos and toxic weed killers like Roundup. Attorneys at RPWB have been helping people harmed by dangerous products for more than 40 years.

RPWB serves in the national leadership of litigation against 3M for producing a toxic fire-fighting foam that is contaminating water systems throughout the United States. We have experience helping farmers as well. We recently helped corn farmers get compensation for financial losses they incurred when corn prices plummeted following China’s rejection of Syngenta GMO corn.

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