The Weed Killer Paraquat is Killing Farmers:
The weed killer Paraquat is killing people, particularly farmers. While you may not have heard of the chemical because the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency restricts its use to commercial, rather than residential, weed-killing, Paraquat is deadly to plants and people. A Swiss-based company, Syngenta, manufactures Paraquat as Gramoxone. While the chemical has been on shelves since 1961, a dozen manufacturers now market Paraquat under other names.
Paraquat is Deadly
Paraquat is highly toxic to both plants and people. It has a high death rate if accidentally ingested or inhaled. A Greenpeace article titled “The Paraquat Papers” indicated that the death rate for paraquat poisoning was at 65%, while other comparable weed killers had only four and eight percent death rates. More than 50 countries, including Switzerland, the entire European Union, and China, banned Paraquat because it is dangerously toxic. Notably, Switzerland has banned Parauqat since 1989 because Syngenta, the current manufacture of Gramoxone, is a Swiss-based company. Nevertheless, the agricultural industry still widely uses Paraquat in the U.S.
Farmers Are Dying
The dangers faced by farmers using Paraquat are well-illustrated by the story of Howard Reck, a farmer in Queensland, Australia, in 2012. Reck was spraying weeds on his property in Lynford and needed to refill a pressure backpack pump sprayer. As he refilled the backpack, it cracked, spraying him in the face and all over with Paraquat. Although he went for help and paramedics took him to a local hospital, he died overnight. Even with a small amount ingested, Paraquat can easily kill people. Reck, who was 55, died surrounded by loved ones.Aside from Paraquat’s toxicity, long-term exposure may lead to Parkinson’s Disease, a degenerative, debilitating neuromuscular disorder. Syngenta and other manufacturers are now facing more than 70 lawsuits across the country, including class action lawsuits. Farmers who self-report having Parkinson’s Disease are two-and-a-half times more likely to have used chemical herbicides.If you or a loved one believe you were harmed by exposure to Paraquat, contact the Madeksho Law Firm at 1-888-910-6376 or through our online form. Your initial consultation is free, and you won’t pay a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
