Title: Paraquat risk of Parkinson’s disease for farmers leads to calls for ban in Australia
[aboutlawsuits.com Sept 17, 2024] -- Following growing evidence linking exposure to Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease among farmers, some health advocates in Australia are calling for that nation to ban the controversial weed killer.
Paraquat has been widely used as a weed and grass killer on farms throughout the world for decades, including in the U.S. and Australia. However, it has been banned in nearly 70 other countries due to serious health risks. In areas where the herbicide is still allowed on the market, existing warnings and safety instructions provided for users largely focus on the risk of Paraquat poisoning, as ingesting even small amounts can result in fatal injuries. However, in recent years, a number of studies have highlighted Paraquat’s risk of Parkinson’s disease, which is a serious and progressive neurological condition that causes shaking, stiffness and difficulty walking, balancing and coordinating body movements.
The manufacturers currently face thousands of lawsuits filed by agricultural workers, farmers, landscapers and others throughout the U.S., who were frequently exposed to the herbicide and subsequently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, indicating they were never adequately warned about the neurological side effects. Read the full article.
