California applicator alleges long-term herbicide exposure led to cancer diagnosis
A lawsuit filed in California is drawing attention to the safety of atrazine, one of the most widely used herbicides in agriculture.
The legal action was filed by law firm Wisner Baum on behalf of Apostolos Panayiotou, a California resident who claims that decades of handling atrazine-based herbicides led to his diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The lawsuit names Syngenta AG and Syngenta Crop Protection LLC as defendants.
According to the complaint, Panayiotou spent nearly 30 years mixing, loading, spraying, and applying atrazine products in Los Angeles County. He alleges that the products exposed him to cancer-related risks and that adequate warnings were not provided through advertising, training programs, sales materials, and other communications.
The case follows increased discussion about atrazine after the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified the herbicide as "probably carcinogenic to humans" in 2025. The agency cited evidence from animal studies, scientific research, and findings showing a possible association between atrazine exposure and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Atrazine is a herbicide commonly used to control grasses and broadleaf weeds. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it is widely used on major crops including field corn, sweet corn, sorghum, and sugarcane.
The lawsuit focuses on direct occupational exposure rather than environmental exposure through water or soil. The complaint states that workers may be exposed while handling herbicide products through skin contact, inhalation, or accidental ingestion during routine agricultural work.
"Mr. Panayiotou handled these products year after year, exactly as they were intended to be used, and he developed cancer. Syngenta knew or should have known about the risks applicators faced, and it failed to warn them," said Pedram Esfandiary, a partner at Wisner Baum and one of the attorneys representing Panayiotou.
Panayiotou claims that prolonged exposure to atrazine-based products contributed to his illness, resulting in medical expenses, lost income, physical pain, and emotional distress. The lawsuit seeks compensation for damages and requests punitive damages.
The complaint also argues that exposure risks involve not only atrazine itself but also formulated products that contain additional ingredients. According to the filing, those ingredients may increase the potential for absorption and exposure during use.
Attorneys representing Panayiotou allege that Syngenta knew or should have known about scientific studies linking atrazine exposure to non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The lawsuit further claims the company failed to adequately investigate the risks and continued marketing products without providing sufficient warnings.
Panayiotou's failure-to-warn claim focuses on information provided outside EPA-approved product labels. The case examines promotional materials, product stewardship programs, sales communications, technical guidance, and applicator training efforts.
The lawsuit includes claims of design defects, failure to warn, and negligence under California law. It also alleges that alternative product formulations, ingredients, packaging methods, or application systems could have reduced potential risks to users.
"People deserve to know whether the products they use to do their jobs could put their health at risk," said Timothy A. Loranger, a senior partner at Wisner Baum who is also representing Panayiotou. "Syngenta had information these workers needed to protect themselves, and it failed to share it. Mr. Panayiotou and others deserved better."
In addition, the complaint alleges efforts to influence scientific discussions surrounding atrazine. These allegations are expected to face scrutiny as the legal proceedings move forward.
Photo Credit: Pexels - Mikhail Nilov