The Manufacturers of Paraquat:
What Did They Know?
Paraquat is a toxic chemical used as an herbicide to control grass and weeds. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency restricts its use, so only licensed applicators can purchase the chemical. However, in recent years, experts have linked Paraquat to Parkinson’s Disease, a long-term degenerative neurological condition that can significantly reduce life quality and restrict movement. But how long have Paraquat’s manufacturers known about this link, and what did they do about it?
Manufacturing Paraquat
Paraquat was first manufactured in 1961 by Imperial Chemical Industries under the trade name Gramoxone. Gramoxone is sold by Syngenta today, but Paraquat is also sold under the names:
- Blanco
- Bonfire Herbicide
- Devour
- Firestorm
- Gramoxone
- Helmquat 3SL
- Para-Shot 3.0
- Parazone
- Quik-Quat
- Bonedry
- Cyclose SL 2.0
Paraquat manufacturers today include:
- Syngenta
- Altitude Crop Innovations, LLC
- Helm Agro
- Drexel Chemical Company
- Sinon USA, Inc.
- Adama Group
- United Phosphorous
- Innvictis Crop Care, LLC
The EPA bans the use of Paraquat for residential use because of its toxicity, but it is still one of the most widely used commercial herbicides in the U.S.
Paraquat and its Dangers
A growing body of scientific evidence links the use of Paraquat to Parkinson’s Disease. But the most disturbing news is that manufacturers of Paraquat may have known of the dangers of Paraquat for some time. A new investigative report from Greenpeace titled “The Paraquat Papers” details how manufacturers have worked to hide the dangers of Paraquat since its first commercial use in the 1960s.The report shows how ICI and Syngenta, the manufacturers of Gramoxone, the first commercially marketed paraquat brand, added a chemical emetic to make those who accidentally ingested the chemical vomit. While the company touted this as an effective way to prevent poisoning, documents obtained in recent U.S. lawsuits indicate “that Syngenta and its predecessors knew for decades that the emetic in Gramoxone did little or nothing to prevent poisoning deaths – but continued to present it as effective to regulators and the public.”More than 50 countries have banned the use of Paraquat, including the European Union and Switzerland. Aside from its link to Parkinson’s Disease, many countries banned Paraquat because it is dangerously toxic. The Greenpeace report indicated that the death rate for paraquat poisoning was at 65%, while other comparable weed killers had only four and eight percent death rates. The agricultural industry still widely uses Paraquat in the U.S.If you or a loved one have developed Parkinson’s Disease and believe that Paraquat has harmed you or a loved one, contact the Madeksho Law Firm at 1-888-910-6376 or through our online form. Your initial consultation is free, and you never pay a fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
