Syngenta Finalizes Settlement Over Paraquat-Parkinson’s Lawsuits

Syngenta has reached a master settlement agreement that could resolve more than 6,700 U.S. lawsuits alleging its paraquat herbicide contributes to Parkinson’s disease. The finalized framework, signed with plaintiffs’ attorneys, is expected to provide a payout schedule within 60 to 90 days for claimants who argue the company failed to warn of paraquat’s neurological risks.

Paraquat remains one of the most heavily used herbicides in U.S. agriculture, applied to orchards, cotton fields, and pastures. Lawsuits claim Syngenta withheld evidence of its neurotoxic effects and sought to shape public and scientific narratives, despite research linking the chemical to brain damage.

While the company denies direct causation, the settlement comes amid growing scrutiny of toxic pesticide exposure and rising Parkinson’s diagnoses nationwide. The case highlights broader concerns over agrochemical accountability, chemical safety regulation, and the long-term health risks faced by farmworkers and rural communities reliant on intensive pesticide use.

15-08-2025