Manufacturers of herbicides that contain paraquat are currently facing lawsuits due to a potential connection between this chemical and Parkinson's disease. This link was first publicized by an Agricultural Health Study that was partially funded by the National Institute of Health. This study stated that exposure to paraquat increased the risk of farmers developing Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative movement disorder that affects the nerve cells in part of the brain. It can cause problems with balance and movement, including involuntary tremors, muscle rigidity and slow movement. It can also affect cognitive function, cause sleep disorders, constipation and depression. Parkinson’s is a permanent disease with no known cure. It is also a progressive disorder, meaning that it gets worse over time.
The ongoing lawsuits regarding paraquat are asserting that exposure to herbicides containing this toxic chemical increased their risk of getting Parkinson’s. They state that herbicide manufacturers knew about this risk but failed to warn the public. They also assert that the herbicides are designed defectively.