The Agriculture Use Of Paraquat Could Sicken Entire Communities

Environmental watchdog groups warn residents of paraquat farm neighborhoods that their health could be at risk

Friday, June 25, 2021 - Environmental health watchdog groups from around the world are at the center of producing and publishing research on paraquat's link to Parkinson's disease, a deadly neurological disorder that leads to a loss of motor coordination. The Environmental Magazine (EM) recently took a deep look into paraquat and is warning families that they may be unaware of the many ways they come into direct contact with the deadly weed killer. People that live or work in the communities that surround farms that use paraquat are at risk of paraquat vapor drifting with the prevailing wind and falling onto their homes, businesses, and places where their children play outdoors. They are also at risk of drinking water that paraquat has leached into. Paraquat can be ingested when you eat the grains, beans, and vegetables that may have been contaminated during paraquat spraying. EM tells readers that those that live, work, and play near a farm should familiarize themselves with the herbicides and pesticides that are being used. People that live and work in communities surrounding farms that spray paraquat could develop kidney, liver, and other diseases including Parkinson's disease from repeated, low-dose exposure to the toxic weedkiller. Paraquat disease lawyers offer a free consultation and work on a contingency basis.

Lawsuits to date focus on farmers and farm workers that spray paraquat on their fields to kill weeds and also douse crops in the defoliant to dry them out just before harvesting. Paraquat is sprayed onto the weeds in the rows between plants to kill weeds that may be crowding the desired crop and also drinking much-needed and expensive water. Using paraquat saves farmers hundreds of times its cost by reducing a farmer's weed maintenance labor costs and also reducing the farm's water bill. The economic benefits of using paraquat are the only reason to endorse the use of the weed killer that is so deadly that a single sip can, and has caused human death. Paraquat is so toxic that a farmer can spray paraquat and watch the weed die before his eyes. Paraquat farmers that spray the deadly defoliant are required by law to use personal protective equipment (PPE) when applying, mixing, and transporting the chemical. Dakota Farmer advises, "Applicators need to use respiratory protection and safety glasses that include splash guards. Mixers and loaders must add a full-face shield and a chemical-resistant apron."

There are no health and safety requirements for the people that live and work nearby paraquat farm despite their health being in extreme danger. People therefore should watch their physical conditions for signs they are being poisoned by the neighborhood farm. The Environmental Magazine (EM) alerts those near paraquat farms to be aware of the earliest symptoms that they have been exposed to the deadly defoliant. People exposed to paraquat experience "throat swelling, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Due to the chemical's severe toxicity, severe conditions like heart, liver, and kidney failure can develop as soon as days to weeks after exposure, depending on the amount of paraquat ingested. Consuming large amounts can lead to acute kidney failure, coma, muscle weakness, seizures, respiratory failure, or even death within hours or days."

Lawyers for Paraquat Lawsuits

Attorneys handling Paraquat Lawsuits for leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma offer free, no-obligation case review for individuals and families who believe they may have grounds to file a paraquat Parkinson's lawsuit. Working on a contingency basis, these attorneys are committed to never charging legal fees unless they win compensation in your paraquat Parkinson's lawsuit. The product liability litigators handling Roundup claims at the Onder Law Firm have a strong track record of success in representing families harmed by dangerous drugs and consumer products.