Paraquat Herbicide and Parkinson’s Disease

A nationwide lawsuit seeks justice for consumers debilitated by a toxic weedkiller.

Callout image for paraquat lawsuit reads Despite being banned in over 60 countries, paraquat remains widely used across the United States, putting farmers and agricultural workers at risk of permanent neurological damage.

For decades, the makers of paraquat, a potent weedkiller used to clear fields before planting, have known about its links to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. They sold the product anyway. DiCello Levitt is playing a leading role in nationwide litigation to hold the companies behind this toxic product accountable for the widespread harm they have caused.

What Is Paraquat?

Paraquat is a highly toxic herbicide used to kill weeds and prepare fields for planting. It has been sprayed on more than 100 crops using handheld sprayers, aircraft, and pressurized tanks pulled by tractors. Because of its toxicity, paraquat is restricted to licensed applicators, but even with precautions, many workers face direct exposure through spills, splashes, or contact with contaminated equipment.

How Is Paraquat Harmful?

Paraquat enters the body through the skin, mouth, nose, lungs, or digestive tract, especially where cuts or abrasions are present. Once absorbed, it travels through the bloodstream to the brain, where it damages dopamine-producing neurons essential for motor control, memory, and motivation.

This nerve cell damage mimics what’s observed in Parkinson’s disease. Hundreds of laboratory and epidemiological studies have found that paraquat exposure significantly increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s by two to five times or more, particularly in people with long-term occupational exposure.

Corporate Knowledge and Misconduct

Internal records show that Syngenta and Chevron, which made, marketed, and distributed the paraquat, knew about the herbicide’s dangers as early as the 1960s. Still, they continued to manufacture and market the chemical, failing to warn users or regulators about the neurological risks. Their refusal to act put farmworkers, their families, and surrounding communities in harm’s way.

Our Role in the Litigation

DiCello Levitt serves on the Plaintiffs’ Executive Committee in this nationwide multidistrict litigation, representing more than 700 people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease or who have died due to paraquat exposure. The firm is seeking hundreds of millions in compensation for victims and their families.

This case is In re Paraquat Products Liability Litigation. The DiCello Levitt team is led by Diandra “Fu” Debrosse and includes Mark DiCello, and Mark Abramowitz.

For updates on this and other major cases, join our mailing list.