The Environmental Protection Agency's Paraquat Warning Came Too Late For Farmers With Parkinson's Disease

Both sides may benefit from statements made by the EPA

Sunday, June 13, 2021 - Nearly 100 cases against Syngenta for failing to warn consumers that paraquat kills have entered into multi-district litigation (MDL). Both sides will be asking their expert scientific witnesses to provide proof of their claims. Both the plaintiffs and defense may call members of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to give testimony that could help their position. On the one hand, Syngenta and Chevron, the two defendants in the cases and the makers of paraquat, can use the EPA's official stance that paraquat is safe when used as directed on the label and following the EPA's safety guidelines. The EPA's safety guidelines include insisting that the licensed paraquat applicator use personal protective equipment (PPE) that the agency specifies and that doing so will keep them safe. The EPA notes, "In addition to deaths by accidental ingestion, since 2000, three more deaths and many severe injuries have been caused by the pesticide getting onto the skin or into the eyes of those working with it," according to IARN News at the University of Nebraska. The publication also notes that it is critically important that the paraquat applicator wear protective gear whenever handling the deadly defoliant. "Proper PPE for applicators includes goggles or other protective eyewear; a NIOSH-approved respirator with any N, R, or P filter; chemical-resistant gloves; plus the usual fare of a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and shoes and socks." Handlers must wear all of the previous PPE, plus chemical-resistant apron and face shield." Parkinson lawsuit lawyers are experts with a winning track record litigating against big corporations and pharmaceutical companies.

Plaintiffs may use the same EPA statements against Syngenta and Chevron as an admission of paraquat's deadly toxicity and the warnings coming when they did as being too little and too late. Defendants claim that they had contracted Parkinson's disease, a deadly neurological disorder that causes a gradual deterioration of one's motor skills, among other mental and physical disabilities, decades ago, and that the company knew about the dangers and covered up their knowledge of such facts. Paraquat was first produced for commercial purposes in 1961. Paraquat usage started to accelerate exponentially around the year 2000 when farmers turned to paraquat to combat weed that had grown resistant to other herbicides like Monsanto's Roundup containing glyphosate. The number of people suffering from Parkinson's disease started to accelerate around the same time. Today, "approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with PD each year. More than 10 million people worldwide are living with PD." according to Parkinson's.org. Men are about twice as likely to get Parkinson's disease.

EPA's official stance can in no way be construed as indicating that paraquat is safe as the agency points out that drinking only one sip can be fatal and that most immediate fatalities occurred accidentally after the chemical had been transferred to a soda bottle for storage. The EPA forced Syngenta to add chemicals to paraquat to make it smell disgusting and to induce immediate vomiting when ingested. The defense will argue that they had used paraquat regularly for decades many years ago when the warnings that were given were insufficient.

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.