Due to its toxicity, the paraquat weed killer has been banned in almost 60 countries around the world now, including Switzerland, where it is manufactured by Syngenta, United Kingdom, Brazil, Thailand, and China. But while the rest of the world is leaning towards stricter regulations or a complete ban on the chemical, the United States […]
Chemical weed control has become deeply entrenched in the agricultural production of the United States. However, the use of herbicides for weed control has become a public health hazard in recent decades, and it has been under scrutiny up to now. And one particular herbicide has been the target of lawsuits filed across the country […]
Paraquat poisoning is injury or death that results from touching, inhaling, or swallowing the herbicide paraquat, a toxic chemical still widely used in the United States today. Several studies that link paraquat to a handful of medical conditions, including Parkinson’s disease, not only prompted environmental groups to call for its ban, but have also prompted […]
Paraquat tongue is the term for the damaging effects caused by paraquat ingestion in the tongue. It is usually the first symptom that is indicative of the intentional or unintentional swallowing of the popular herbicide. Years of research have exposed the plethora of adverse effects that paraquat can cause. But the toxic herbicide’s link to […]
Paraquat lung is a term for a disease caused by exposure to paraquat dichloride, a popular weed killer used by farmers in many countries around the globe. As is clear from the word itself, the condition affects the lungs and is related to bacterial pneumonia as well as respiratory failure. Although used in many countries, […]
Making a connection between your symptoms and paraquat exposure is not always easy. This is because the popular weed killer can cause both short- and long-term health effects. Even a farmworker or certified applicator who has prolonged exposure to paraquat can develop symptoms without realizing what the underlying cause is. Paraquat, otherwise known as paraquat […]
Paraquat was previously used in golf courses to control weeds and to maintain the aesthetic appeal of its lush greens. Pesticides, herbicides, and several other chemicals are sprayed in these areas for the same purposes. There is growing evidence, however, of the link between Parkinson’s disease and exposure to chemically-treated golf courses. The health effects […]
Side effects of paraquat include mouth ulcers, increased heart rate, dehydration, excess fluid in the lungs, muscle weakness, low blood pressure, lung scarring, kidney failure, and liver failure. These symptoms can be experienced when paraquat is ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Exposure to paraquat herbicide has short- and long-term health effects, including lung […]
You might think that a widely used chemical that comes with potential dangers can easily be banned as long as there’s enough evidence to back its toxicity. But that’s not the case for the highly toxic herbicide paraquat, at least in the United States. Several countries across the globe have banned the use of paraquat […]
The agricultural industry in the United States relies heavily on the use of chemical pesticides. With that said, it’s unfortunately not surprising how paraquat dichloride, a herbicide that has been banned in over 30 countries, is still being widely used across the U.S. Recent studies, however, have linked paraquat to an increased risk of Parkinson’s […]