Paraquat, an herbicide that has been banned in several nations due to its apparent dangers but has not been banned in the United States, is at the center of another developing class action claim. A farmer in Iowa is leading the latest class action claim, which alleges the manufacturers of Paraquat failed to warn him and others that the use of the herbicide for agricultural purposes could cause Parkinson’s disease. He says he has used Paraquat for the better part of 30 years, but he was never warned of its Parkinson’s disease risks.
Chevron and Syngenta are the manufacturers of Paraquat that are being named as defendants in the class action claim. Notably, Syngenta’s home country of Switzerland has banned the herbicide since 1989, so the company reasonably cannot claim to not have knowledge of the product’s dangerous nature. Chevron is U.S.-based and first started selling the herbicide in the early ‘60s.
Studies Conclude Paraquat is Dangerous
Of course, the basis of the Iowa farmer’s class action claim and many others like it that have been filed recently are not speculations. Several studies in recent years have concluded that Paraquat is unsafe for its intended use, which echoes what dozens of other nations have already concluded.
In 2011, the National Institute of Health and the Parkinson’s Institute surveyed Iowa and North Carolina farmers and their families that used Paraquat frequently. The research suggested that Parkinson’s disease diagnoses were 250% more likely in Paraquat users than people who did not use or who were not exposed to the herbicide. A few years later, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commented on the authenticity of studies that linked Paraquat to Parkinson’s. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also concluded that Paraquat is highly poisonous.
Recent Increase in Paraquat Use & Lawsuits
The uptick in Paraquat lawsuits follows a recent increase in its use after Roundup herbicide came under criticism and lawsuits due to its link to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Agricultural professionals switched to Paraquat as an alternative, unaware that it had also been deemed highly dangerous.
With awareness of Paraquat’s dangers on the rise and more people taking legal action against its manufacturers, there is no better time than now to explore your options if you or a loved one have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after using Paraquat. Golomb Legalcan help you understand your rights and decide on a course of action, which could be joining a class action lawsuit or creating an individual lawsuit. We can assist clients nationwide, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you need help. Initial consultations are free.