Paraquat
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Protecting the Rights of Paraquat Applicators in the U.S.
Minneapolis Paraquat Lawsuit Attorneys
Today, Paraquat is used by countless agricultural workers across the United States as an effective weedkiller. Unfortunately, the herbicide can also harm applicators who work with it directly and has been linked to Parkinson’s disease. If you have been exposed to Paraquat and have developed complications, Goldenberg Lauricella, PLLC can meet with you to discuss whether you have legal grounds to take action. Our Minneapolis Paraquat lawsuit attorneys genuinely care about our clients and can provide the legal guidance you need to recover the compensation you deserve.
Contact our award-winning Minneapolis lawyers today online or by phone at (800) 903-1643 to schedule a free consultation.
What is Paraquat?
Paraquat dichloride is a chemical agent that is widely used in commercial farming today—in the United States, its usage has increased more than 200% in the last 10 years, despite the fact that it has been banned in multiple countries. As a herbicide, Paraquat functions as a weed killer to kill any plants, grass species, or weeds it’s applied to.
Paraquat has also been increasingly used in recent years as farmers and workers have turned to herbicidal alternatives to treat their crops. While Monsanto’s Roundup, for example, has been one of the most popular herbicidal agents, weed and pest resistance over time have led to workers switching to Paraquat. In 2016 alone, the United States sprayed 7 million pounds of Paraquat across 15 million acres of land.
Paraquat is lethally toxic to humans and non-human species, which is why the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a Mitigation Decision in 2017 to limit who can mix and apply the herbicide. Now, individuals must be certified in order to apply Paraquat. Unfortunately, Paraquat has already negatively impacted countless individuals across the country and has been linked to the development of early-onset Parkinson’s disease—a risk factor that Syngenta, the maker of Paraquat, failed to disclose to the EPA.
Complications Associated with Paraquat Applicator Use
Paraquat exposure can be extremely dangerous to humans, as it can be fatal after direct contact, such as through inhalation or digestion. Studies have also found that individuals who have been exposed to Paraquat as teenagers or young adults were between 200 and 600 percent more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease, a brain disorder caused by nerve cell damage and associated with symptoms like tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with coordination.
Parkinson’s disease is associated with Paraquat because the herbicide can cause lasting damage to the neurons that produce dopamine in the brain, and the loss of dopamine can cause Parkinson’s disease symptoms. What’s challenging about Paraquat lawsuits is that individuals won’t know if they’ve been impacted right away after exposure, as symptoms of Parkinson’s disease develop over time and can vary from person to person.
Some symptoms associated with the early stages of Parkinson’s disease include:
- Sleep disorders
- Fatigue, dizziness, or fainting
- Tremors or slight shaking in one area, such as the hand
- Loss of facial expressions
- Stiffness while walking
- Loss of smell
- Depression and anxiety
- Difficulty standing up straight
These complications can be permanent and result in incurring thousands of dollars worth of medical bills, diminished earning capacity, and more.
Who Can Bring a Paraquat Lawsuit?
Paraquat is a restricted use pesticide, meaning that only applicators who have been licensed can work with the herbicide and supervise its application. If you’re a licensed applicator who has undergone the mandatory training provided by the Environmental Protection Agency and have been affected after directly mixing, loading, and/or applying Paraquat, you may be eligible to take legal action. Many individuals who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after exposure are farmers or agricultural workers.
Though we’re based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, our team is available to help clients who have been affected by Paraquat nationwide. We’re currently looking for clients who have or are currently working with Paraquat in the following states:- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Indiana
- Kansas
- North Carolina
- California
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Mississippi
- Texas
If you’re an agricultural worker who was exposed to Paraquat and developed Parkinson’s disease, you deserve justice. Our award-winning attorneys have protected the rights of countless individuals who have been harmed by dangerous devices, drugs, and products and can give you peace of mind throughout the legal process. We know this may be a dark and scary time, but we can stand by your side and help you make the decisions that will benefit your well-being and your future.
Don’t wait to get started on your claim—call our Minneapolis Paraquat lawsuit lawyers at (800) 903-1643 to schedule a free consultation and leave the sleepless nights to us.
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