What you need to know about Paraquat
Paraquat is an herbicide that has been used to kill weeds and other unwanted vegetation in commercial farming. It is a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP) and can only be legally purchased and used by licensed applicators. Due to its health risks, paraquat is banned in many countries around the world. However, it continues to see heavy use in the United States.
Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative condition, has been reported among those who were exposed to paraquat either working directly with the herbicide or by proximity to land that was treated with paraquat.
In many cases, people who have been exposed to paraquat experience Parkinson’s disease-like symptoms. Those symptoms might include:
- Tremors or shaking
- Rigid muscles
- Slowed movement
- Impaired posture/balance
- Loss of automatic movements such as blinking or smiling
- Speech/handwriting changes
These symptoms could be signs of Parkinson’s disease or similar disorders that require medical attention. The symptoms could also indicate that a sufferer is experiencing complications linked to paraquat.
Many of the lawsuits being filed against paraquat manufacturers involve people who have worked or lived around farms or performed activities that involved exposure to pesticides.
* Cases may be referred to another attorney or law firm.
