Parkinson's Claims

The link between paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s disease

Overall, the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease as a result of frequent exposure to paraquat is 250% higher in people who regularly use it than in the general population.

A medical study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2009 revealed that any exposure to paraquat within 1,600 feet of a home increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease by 75%.

Furthermore, another study conducted on individuals exposed to paraquat at a young age found that the risk of the participants coming to struggle with Parkinson’s disease increased by 200% to 600%.

Lastly, in a more recent study from 2021, prolonged, low-level inhalation of paraquat entailed a considerable risk of Parkinson’s disease in mice. In the summer of 2019, Representative Nydia Velasquez introduced the Protect Against Paraquat Act, whose purpose was to forbid the use of this herbicide in the country. The Environmental Protection Agency has recently begun reviewing the dangers of paraquat exposure and is to make a decision at the end of 2022. When other risk factors are present in people who use paraquat on a regular basis, such as genetic predisposition and exposure to the fungicide maneb and the insecticide rotenone, the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease is even higher. According to a 2011 study conducted by the National Institute of Health, there was a 2.5-fold increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease as a consequence of paraquat exposure.

It is important to know that if you were exposed to paraquat and subsequently developed Parkinson’s disease, and you can clearly name the brands you used you are eligible for compensation, which our skillful attorneys can help you recover. With over 30 years of experience in helping people whose health was affected by toxic exposure, our legal team has the necessary resources and knowledge to obtain the most favorable outcome possible for your case.

Who is at the highest risk of developing Parkinson’s disease as a result of paraquat exposure?

Everyone who worked with paraquat is at risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, as this herbicide is very toxic. The majority of people who use paraquat are agricultural workers. However, there are some categories of people who have the highest risk of developing Parkinson’s disease as a consequence of prolonged exposure to paraquat, which refers to the following:

• farmers
• farmworkers
• herbicide applicators
• chemical mixers
• tank fillers
• people living near farming areas

Consequently, agricultural workers are not the only category of people who are at risk of developing Parkinson’s disease following paraquat exposure. If you notice the symptoms of this condition in a family member with a history of paraquat exposure, we strongly advise you to encourage them to seek medical attention. Because Parkinson’s disease is often misdiagnosed, your family member may need to look for a second and even a third opinion from medical specialists if they do not receive a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease after their initial appointment. It is important to keep in mind that only individuals who struggle with Parkinson’s disease are eligible for compensation if they were exposed to paraquat, and if they can clearly identify the paraquat brand to which they were exposed.

Studies linking paraquat with Parkinson’s disease date back years, however, manufacturers failed to warn

Businesses that make or sell products, including manufacturers of pesticides such as paraquat, are obligated to bring products to market that do not pose an unreasonable danger to users and are free from defects. When a product is characterized by risks known to its manufacturer, adequate warnings must be provided to potential purchasers and users, and when that does not happen, it is important that corporations be held fully accountable for the health consequences that follow. The high toxicity of paraquat to living cells of all types creates a substantial risk of harm to persons exposed to it, which the companies that manufactured the herbicide should have known in the duty to exercise care.

Parkinson's disease is often misdiagnosed

Regardless of the cause, Parkinson’s disease is often misdiagnosed, as the symptoms of this brain disorder mimic those of other similar conditions.

According to surveys, up to 30% of people who struggle with Parkinson’s disease initially receive a wrong diagnosis. In other words, 1 in 4 individuals with this brain disorder are misdiagnosed.

For this reason, seeking a second and even a third opinion from different medical specialists is crucial if you have a history of paraquat exposure, as Parkinson’s disease is the only diagnosis for which you can file a paraquat claim.

Nevertheless, because people with this condition are usually unaware of their symptoms, their family members need to keep a close eye on their health and look out for the symptoms of this brain disorder. The conditions Parkinson’s disease is most frequently mistaken for are the following:

• essential tremor
• normal pressure hydrocephalus
• dementia with Lewy bodies
• multiple system atrophy
• corticobasal syndrome
• progressive supranuclear palsy