UK Farm Families Describe The Horrors Of Developing Parkinson's Disease From Inhaling Paraquat

UK farm families with one or more members suffering from Parkinson's disease want paraquat banned immediately

Tuesday, April 12, 2022 - Farmers, of all people, in the United Kingdom, are calling for a ban on paraquat because of studies that show farmers who apply the defoliant regularly for many years are developing Parkinson's disease, a deadly, irreversible neurological disorder. The farmer's concern parallels hundreds of paraquat Paraquat lawsuits in the US against Syngenta and Chevron, the makers and distributors of the deadly herbicide alleging that inhaling paraquat caused their brain to cease to function properly. Studies say that when paraquat vapor is inhaled it destroys the cells in the brain that produce dopamine, a chemical that facilitates communication between the brain cells that control memory and physical coordination. US actor Michael J. Fox is the most famous Parkinson's disease sufferer, and his organization, the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) has led the way in funding studies aimed at finding the cause of and cures for paraquat Parkinson's disease. The leading suspect in causing Parkinson's disease in ingesting agricultural pesticides and herbicides like paraquat regularly for many years either by inhaling it regularly, having it become absorbed by the skin or both. People who live near farms that use paraquat report that the nauseating smell of the defoliant is constantly in the air. This means that they are inhaling it with every breath. An article published by the BBC the other day outlines the allegations of a farmer's daughter who describes how her father was required to regularly use paraquat for decades. "He would carry a backpack filled with the chemical and spend hours hand-spraying the fields. He would have his sleeves rolled up, his arms bare, the liquid dripping down." Another case in point describes two farmers with adjacent farms spraying paraquat both developed Parkinson's in their 40s, a particularly young age for the disease which is associated with older age. "He has a twinkle in his eye, but his clarity of speech has gone. It's a horrible disease, says his wife Sue. It's taken his life away," according to the BBC. Experts are most concerned for farmers who regularly got paraquat on their skin during its application. Toxicologist Prof Jon Heylings, a former Syngenta employee turned whistleblower, has told reporters that the chemical can enter the bloodstream and the blood through absorption on the skin. He told the BBC, "If they went out the next day and actually used it again, and the next day, you could absorb more Paraquat through the skin, into the blood, and then into the brain."

Syngenta continues to claim that Paraquat is safe despite admitting that only one small sip can cause instant death. The company claims to have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the safety of the product but their efforts do nothing for the millions of people affected by the herbicide in prior decades. Parkinson's disease is gradual and progressive. The symptoms of loss of motor skills, memory loss, and the inability to speak occur gradually over many years. Thousands of cases of paraquat Parkinson's disease may be incubating in farm workers and those who live, work, and play in communities surrounding farms that spray the deadly herbicide.

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.