Paraquat

Paraquat dichloride is one of the world's most common herbicides. It's used in both agricultural and non-agricultural areas to control weeds and grasses, and is typically applied aerially using low-pressure hand wands, groundbooks, and backpacks. 

Paraquat dichloride has been registered in the United States as a pesticide since 1964, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Unfortunately, as the Parkinson's Foundation explains, Paraquat has been linked to serious health issues, including an increased risk of Parkinson's Disease. 

Because people exposed to Paraquat were not warned of the added risk of this serious condition, many have filed suit against manufacturers, including Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC, and Chevron. Claims were initially filed as early as 2017, according to Syngenta's 2018 financial report. 

Cases are still ongoing today, and if you or someone you love has developed Parkinson's or is at higher risk due to Paraquat exposure, give us a call today to determine if you can pursue a claim to recover compensation for resulting damages. 

What is Paraquat?

According to the National Pesticide Information Center, Paraquat is a synthetic herbicide that's considered a non-selective contact herbicide because it kills all vegetation it touches. Paraquat is also used to dry out crops prior to harvest and as a plant growth regulator, limiting unwanted growth in trees and vines.

There are 24 registered products within the United States that have Paraquat in them, and Paraquat is used on a "wide variety of crops," which includes animal feed crops, peanuts, grains, and vegetables.

Exposure to Paraquat can occur by eating or drinking items treated with the herbicide, as well as by getting Paraquat on the skin, breathing it in, or drinking it. 

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Potential Health Risks of Paraquat

The National Pesticide Information Center highlights potential dangers of Paraquat, including the following issues, depending on how you are exposed to the herbicide:
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• Skin exposure: Skin exposure can cause redness, itchiness, hives, welts, irritation, skin peeling, swelling, blisters, dry cracked skin, and horizontal ridges on the nails
• Inhalation: Inhalation can cause nosebleeds, skin irritation, upper respiratory tract irritation, vomiting, headaches, cough, and chest pain. 
• Swallowing: Accidentally swallowing Paraquat can result in burning in the mouth, nose, throat, esophagus, upper abdomen, and chest. Brain swelling and brain damage can result from ingesting the herbicide, and, unfortunately, accidentally consuming the substance can be fatal. 

Unfortunately, one of the biggest health risks was not originally disclosed despite clear evidence that the pesticide manufacturers were aware of the dangers. 

Research published in the International Journal of Epidemiology revealed that ambient exposure to Paraquat at residences and workplaces was associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease.

The New Lede, a news initiative that specializes in environmental issues, also revealed that internal Syngenta documents dating back as far as the 1950s show that Syngenta’s predecessor, Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd., and Chevron Chemicals knew by the 1960s and 1970s that Paraquat could accumulate in the brain and do lasting damage. 

Records also show that scientists for Paraquat's manufacturers “were aware of evidence that exposure to paraquat could impair the central nervous system (CNS), triggering tremors and other symptoms in experimental animals similar to those suffered by people with Parkinson’s disease.”

These internal scientists also expressed concern that Paraquat exposure could result in permanent CNS effects.

Despite awareness of these risks, The New Lede reports that Syngenta created a website for the purpose of publicly dismissing concerns about an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease due to Paraquat exposure. The website included positive messaging about the herbicide and claimed that it didn’t readily cross the blood-brain barrier – even though both animal and human data in the company’s possession showed that Paraquat did accumulate in brain tissue.

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EPA Actions Against Paraquat 

The Environmental Protection Agency regulates Paraquat because it is an herbicide, rather than a food substance or drug, which would be regulated by the FDA. 

In July of 2021, the EPA released an interim decision for registration review in light of the many public comments related to Paraquat risks. The EPA also indicated it is now “requiring mitigation measures to reduce risks associated with paraquat in order to protect human health and the environment.”

Some limitations on Paraquat use include the following:
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• Only certified applicators can use Paraquat, not persons working under the supervision of a certified applicator. This is a stricter rule than most restricted-use products
• Paraquat cannot be transferred from its original packaging under any circumstances
• Paraquat must be kept secured at all times to prevent access by unauthorized persons, especially children
• Paraquat cannot be stored in or around residential homes and can’t be used around homes, schools, parks, gardens, playgrounds, or golf courses

Why Are Paraquat Lawsuits Being Filed?

Individuals exposed to Paraquat who have developed Parkinson’s Disease are filing lawsuits against herbicide manufacturers to hold them accountable for losses. 

Close to 8,000 lawsuits have been filed by plaintiffs who claim that manufacturers improperly failed to warn them of the risks of the product when used as intended.  

Product manufacturers have an obligation to release safe products or to warn users of danger.  In this particular instance, based on internal documents, there is strong reason to believe Paraquat's manufacturers purposely downplayed or covered up insight they had for decades on the risk of harm their products could cause. 

History of  Paraquat Lawsuits and Recent Case Updates

Paraquat lawsuits have been ongoing since 2017, and in June of 2021, Syngenta and another co-defendant agreed to settle an unspecified number of claims related to Paraquat for $187.5 million. However, many cases continued. 

In 2021, Paraquat cases were consolidated in a multi-district litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. 

Multidistrict litigations are not class actions. Each plaintiff retains their own case in a multi-district litigation, while in class actions, there is one large case with many plaintiffs. In an MDL, cases are brought before one judge to resolve common issues. 

Bellwether trials, or test cases, are also scheduled to provide insight into how cases will be received in court. This shapes settlement negotiations. 

In April of 2025, plaintiffs and defendants agreed to settle many of the claims pending in the MDL. The agreement is expected to resolve the majority of claims, with Syngenta stating that the company has “settled certain claims in the federal Multi-District Litigation (MDL) and California court in the United States related to paraquat.”

While Syngenta said there is no merit to the claims, the company believes “litigation can be distracting and costly” so the settlement will help resolve matters more quickly, although Syngenta won’t accept blame for the harm that resulted.

Can You Still File a Paraquat Lawsuit?  

You should talk with an experienced attorney to determine if you can still file a Paraquat lawsuit. Your attorney can help you to determine the best path toward pursuing justice for those who have been harmed by the dangerous herbicide.

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