Only short-term paraquat exposure causes immediate symptoms
Paraquat exposure can occur by inhalation, skin contact, or ingestion. Most agricultural workers and farmworkers breathe in paraquat vapors after the herbicide is applied to crops. Nevertheless, they can also be exposed by skin contact if they do not wear gloves when working with paraquat. The symptoms of inhaling high concentrations of paraquat occur in the following order:
- pain and swelling of the mouth and throat
- nausea and vomiting
- abdominal pain
- diarrhea
Severe gastrointestinal symptoms may subsequently result in electrolyte abnormalities and low blood pressure. If the route of exposure is ingestion, paraquat can cause life-threatening symptoms even if the swollen amount is small. These symptoms are heart failure, lung scarring, kidney failure, and liver failure. If a person survives the toxic effect of paraquat, long-term lung damage is highly likely. In the long run, if the individual is regularly exposed to the herbicide, they might develop Parkinson’s disease.
People who think they may have been exposed to paraquat when applying it to crops should quickly remove their clothes, rapidly wash their entire body with soap and water, and get medical assistance immediately. If your eyes are burning or your vision is blurred, rinse your eyes with water for 10 to 15 minutes. The clothing you wore while working with paraquat should be placed inside a bag and disposed of to avoid further exposure. While you are doing this, you should avoid touching the contaminated areas by wearing a new pair of rubber gloves. Finally, you should not dispose of the bag yourself – instead, contact the health department or emergency personnel, who will arrange for the disposal.
Quality legal assistance for individuals and families injured by paraquat exposure
With over 30 years of experience, our attorneys, who specialize in toxic exposure, have the necessary resources and knowledge to help you file a paraquat claim if you were exposed to the herbicide and now struggle with Parkinson’s disease. The legal process is simple and will mostly take place over the phone. You will only have to provide us with evidence of your paraquat exposure and your medical records stating your diagnosis.
After a thorough review of your documents, our skilled attorneys will let you know whether you qualify to file a paraquat claim with the liable manufacturers. If multiple companies are responsible for your diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, we will file your claim with each of them. Eventually, if our endeavors are fruitful, you will receive the maximum available compensation for your suffering. It is important to know that we work on a contingency fee basis.
