Paraquat is a toxic weed killer that’s been in use all over the world since 1961. Even though it has been banned in nearly three dozen countries, except the U.S., Paraquat is still one of the most widely used herbicides on the market, despite its links to tremors, brain damage, and Parkinson’s Disease.
In the United States, a blue dye is added to the poison to distinguish it from consumable liquids, but there are multiple ways Paraquat can enter the body and wreak havoc:
- Drinking or eating the poison is typically accidental but is the most direct form of exposure, with thousands of deaths due to such incidents.
- Paraquat is sprayed onto many of the crops we eat; a fine mist enters the air and can be inhaled into the lungs.
- The weed killer can be absorbed through the skin after handling the chemical or touching surfaces that have been sprayed with it.
What Happens When Paraquat Enters The Body?
The Centers for Disease Control has kept a close eye on Paraquat and how it can damage the human body. Duration of exposure plays a large part in how a person reacts to be being poisoned.
When Paraquat comes into contact with the lining of the mouth, stomach, intestines, or lungs, it causes direct and immediate damage. Once in the body, the bloodstream distributes the poison throughout the body, causing toxic chemical reactions, primarily to the lungs, liver, and kidneys. Lung cells have been known to hold and store the chemical.
People living on or near areas known to use weed killers like Paraquat can spot exposure through tell-tale signs like pain or burns in and around the mouth, nose, or throat. If Paraquat enters the stomach, symptoms include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, which may be bloody.
Many studies have linked Paraquat exposure to tremors, brain damage, and Parkinson’s Disease. And that’s where Slater & Zurz comes in. We are helping clients who suspect they were diagnosed with health issues, like Parkinson’s, due to Paraquat exposure. It’s not the first time chemical exposures have led to societal movements, but our legal community is here to help protect people now that the word is out about Paraquat.
Who Uses Paraquat?
The Centers for Disease Control says Paraquat is classified for commercially licensed use. In Ohio, applicators need only apply to the Ohio Department of Agriculture, take a basic test, and pay $30 every three years to use Paraquat.
Farmers, landscapers, grounds workers, and others can qualify as commercially licensed users in Ohio. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, only certified users are supposed to be able to purchase Paraquat, but the product is easily obtainable for purchase on the internet. That means Paraquat’s potential use is very broad, and its health impacts are even broader.
The EPA banned Paraquat’s use on playgrounds and golf courses, among other places, in July of this year. But prior to the ban, the poisonous herbicide was applied far and wide due to its extreme effectiveness as a contact killer – meaning whatever it touches, it destroys.
The Many Faces Of Paraquat
Many companies manufacture Paraquat products under many brand names:
- Gramoxone
- Parazone
- Quick-Quat
- Para-Shot 3.0
- Helmquat 3SL
- Cyclone SL 2.0
- Firestorm
- Crisquat
- Dexuron
- Para-col
- Devour
- Bonedry
- Blanco
- Dexuron
- Esgram
- Ortho Paraquat CL
- Tota-col
- PP 148
- Garmixel
- Pillarxone
- AH 501
- Bai Cao Ku
Slater & Zurz LLP Is Ready And Able To Help
Our law firm has been here for decades and our attorneys have helped tens of thousands of people through many times of crisis. We’ve handled small cases and big cases just like Paraquat. We have the expertise to get you the help you need. All you have to do is reach out and let us guide you on what to do next. It costs you nothing to talk to us. We are paid no fees unless we win your case. We have to earn it. And there’s no quit in our fight. Call and speak to a Paraquat lawyer about your case.
