Alabama farmer has Parkinson’s. He’s among thousands who say weed killer is to blame
AL.com••health
Key Points:
- Mac Barlow, a 70-year-old Alabama farmer, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after decades of using paraquat, a toxic weed killer linked to the illness by recent research and lawsuits.
- Paraquat, banned in many countries due to its health risks, is still sold in the U.S. by manufacturer Syngenta, which denies a causal link between the chemical and Parkinson’s despite mounting evidence and ongoing litigation involving over 6,200 plaintiffs.
- Barlow’s symptoms worsened over time, severely impacting his ability to work on his farm and forcing his family to sell land to cover medical expenses, while his wife has become his full-time caregiver despite her own health issues.
- The multi-district litigation against Sy
