Although paraquat, also known as paraquat dichloride or gramoxone, is a well-known herbicide, it has been banned in many countries, including the EU and China. However, it is still widely used in industrial and commercial agricultural activities in the United States and products like Roundup.
While its use has been banned in residential areas, there’s still evidence that people are being affected by prolonged exposure to the compound. If you suspect that you may have been poisoned or harmed by your exposure to the popular weed killer but aren’t sure, you can speak to our product liability attorneys.
Short-Term Symptoms of Exposure to Paraquat
These side effects are common within hours to a few days of exposure to significant amounts of this deadly herbicide. These include:
- Confusion
- Acute kidney failure
- Liver failure
- Increased pulse rate or faster heartbeat
- Damage to the heart
- Damage to the lungs
- Fluid-filled lungs, which makes breathing very difficult
- Failure of the lungs, possibly resulting in death
- Weak muscles
- Extreme fatigue and lethargy
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Coma
Please note that even though these symptoms don’t necessarily mean that you have been dealing with a case of paraquat exposure or poisoning, you must take all precautionary measures. If you suspect that you may have been in close contact with the herbicide, you need to seek medical help immediately.
Long-Term Symptoms of Paraquat
If caught early, it is possible to survive the effects of paraquat exposure or poisoning. However, the impact of that short-term exposure can lead to long-term health issues like:
- Permanent lung damage or scarring
- Scarred esophagus, which makes swallowing difficult
- Heart failure
- Kidney failure
- Poor fertility and sterility
But people who consume or ingest large quantities of paraquat dichloride are more likely to die from the damage it causes to the organs.
Can You Survive Prolonged Exposure to Paraquat?
That depends on how much of it you’ve been in contact with. Paraquat is so potent that just a small sip can kill you, let alone prolonged exposure to the compound. Unfortunately, once the compound has been ingested, there’s no antidote or treatment.
The people who are most at risk of being exposed to paraquat dichloride are licensed pest or weed control specialists who are in frequent contact with it. But if you live near commercial agricultural sites that use the herbicide, you may be at risk of exposure, particularly from soil run-offs.
However, as long as the exposure is minimal and you do not ingest it through the mouth, inhale copious quantities of its fumes, or dab sizable quantities onto your skin, you may be able to survive. Nevertheless, you may still experience paraquat side effects.
Can Paraquat Cause Parkinson’s Disease?
Recent studies have shown a link between prolonged paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s disease. This, in part, is probably one of the reasons why Congress has introduced the H.R.3817 bill that will lead to banning the sale, use, and reregistration of paraquat in the United States.
In fact, a recent article claims that Syngenta, the company that manufactures paraquat, could have tweaked the herbicide’s formula and made it safer for use. But they didn’t. If anything, they knew that their weedkiller could cause Parkinson’s in farmers who were exposed to it for a long time.
Is Paraquat an Active Ingredient in Roundup Weed Killer?
No, it’s not. Although Roundup is also a herbicide that functions in a similar manner, it has its own peculiar issues and had been subject to around 125,000 lawsuits. Paraquat dichloride lawsuits are different and more recent.
If you have used both and are worried that you or your loved one may have been ill because of exposure to one or both of these weedkillers, you can discuss your case with our product liability attorneys.
Filing a Paraquat Lawsuit With Zanes Law
Because there is a growing number of paraquat lawsuits being filed in multiple states across the country, the government has approved a multidistrict litigation process that makes it easy for victims to file their lawsuits. This multidistrict litigation also speeds up the legal proceedings.
With almost 1,300 of these lawsuits currently filed due to paraquat side effects, this is shaping up to be another big mass torts action in the United States. So, contact a personal injury attorney at Zanes Law Injury Lawyers if you feel like you might want to file a paraquat lawsuit.
Our lawyers are compassionate, experienced, knowledgable, dedicated, and have a track record of dealing with similar cases like the Roundup weedkiller cancer lawsuit. You can also call us on our toll-free line, and we’ll walk you through the process and what you need to do to successfully file a paraquat lawsuit wherever you are.