Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease
Syngenta, Chevron, and related paraquat manufacturers/distributors
Last checked Aug 10, 2026 · LawyerUnc editorial. Educational only, not legal advice.
Docket. MDL 3004 (S.D. Ill.)
Window LawyerUnc is tracking. 1964-01-01 → open
General causation
Plaintiffs allege paraquat exposure causes Parkinson’s disease. The science is contested. EPA registration history, applicator practices, and epidemiology are the general-causation battlefield.
Specific causation / screening
Occupational or para-occupational mixing, loading, or spraying, farm work, not merely living near fields in many current screens, plus a Parkinson’s diagnosis. License and purchase records help.
Injuries currently screened
- Parkinson’s disease
- Parkinsonism (some firms; often declined without a PD diagnosis)
Timeline
1960s–present
U.S. agricultural use
Paraquat remains a restricted-use pesticide in the United States.
2021
MDL 3004
JPML centralizes in the Southern District of Illinois.
2024–2026
Daubert / trial settings
General-causation rulings and bellwether settings drive inventory quality.
Sources
- JPML MDL 3004
- EPA paraquat registration materials