Farmworkers Exposed to Paraquat Are at Risk for Parkinson’s Disease

Farmworkers in Monterey County, CA, and elsewhere across the country, have been exposed to a dangerous herbicide called Paraquat for decades. The chemical is considered a deadly pesticide used by farmworkers. Sprayed on crops to control weed and grass growth, if Paraquat comes in contact with skin or ingested, it can be harmful—and one small accidental sip can kill a person, according to the EPA.

According to Monterey County’s KION News, as many as 20,000 U.S. farmworkers—the majority of whom are Hispanic—are poisoned by pesticides each year. In 2017, a record 44,700 pounds of Paraquat were sprayed in Monterey County. In November 2022, The Center for Biological Diversity and Californians for Pesticide Reform sent a letter to California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation urging them to cease use of Paraquat due to its dangerous effects.

Indeed, studies have found that exposure to Paraquat poses health risks. Links between Paraquat and Parkinson’s Disease have been made due to the chemical’s role as a neurotoxin and the way it impacts the brain and the central nervous system.

Lawsuits have been filed on behalf of farmers and other workers who were exposed to Paraquat and later developed Parkinson’s Disease. Plaintiffs claim that companies such as Chevron Chemical Company, Syngenta, Growmark, and others who sell Paraquat-based herbicides did not warm of the alleged dangerous health risks associated with Paraquat.

Who is at Risk for Parkinson’s Due to Paraquat Exposure?

The following individuals exposed to Paraquat-containing herbicides or pesticides may be at risk for developing Parkinson’s:

• Farmers and farm workers
• Agricultural workers
• Gardeners, groundskeepers
• Chemical mixers, tank fillers, and transporters
• Herbicide applicator workers

Am I Eligible to File a Paraquat Lawsuit?

If you or a loved one handled or used an herbicide or pesticide containing Paraquat and were later diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, you may be legally entitled to compensation.