In farms around the world, powerful chemical compounds are sprayed on crops in order to keep invasive plants and pests away. Some of these agrochemicals have proven to be a double-edged sword — although they kill unwanted bugs and weeds, herbicides and pesticides can also be very dangerous to humans.
For years, research has raised concerns about a link between glyphosate weed-killers like Roundup® and an increased risk of certain cancers.
Thousands of innocent farmers, city maintenance workers, landscapers, school athletic staff, and others have sued Monsanto — which was purchased by Bayer in 2018 — claiming Roundup caused their cancer.
Monsanto and its now parent company Bayer have denied these claims for decades, stating that their glyphosate-based herbicides are “extensively evaluated for human health and safety.”
However, studies conducted by health organizations and environmental groups continue to highlight the chemical’s concerning impacts on health and safety. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), labeled glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic.”
If you or a loved one developed cancer after using Roundup, you may be eligible to pursue compensation from a Roundup lawsuit. Contact us now to learn more.
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Can Roundup Cause Cancer?
Roundup and other glyphosate weed-killers have strong links to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), a cancer that develops in the body's white blood cells and impacts the immune system.
Exposure to glyphosate weed-killers increases the risk of NHL by 41%, according to the medical journal Mutation Research. Studies to understand the link between glyphosate weed-killer and additional types of cancers are still ongoing.
Types of Roundup cancers include:
- B-cell lymphoma
- Burkitt lymphoma
- Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
- Follicular lymphoma
- Hairy cell leukemia
- Lymphoblastic lymphoma
- Mantle cell lymphoma
- Marginal zone lymphoma
- Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
- Small lymphocytic lymphoma
- T-cell leukemia
- T-cell lymphoma
Other weed-killers like paraquat have been linked to additional serious health issues including Parkinson’s disease, a non-cancerous disease that impacts a person’s ability to control movement.
Like other glyphosate-based herbicides, paraquat is heavily used throughout the U.S., with nearly 11 million pounds sprayed on crops each year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Worldwide Health Implications of Widespread Glyphosate Use
Roundup became commercially available in 1974, and since then, tens of thousands of people have developed serious health problems believed to be linked to this weed-killer.
Farmworkers and essential agricultural workers are often put at the highest risk due to how often they may use these kinds of products. But because of the chemical’s presence in our food system, even those who have not worked in agriculture may be at risk.
A report from the Centers for Disease Control found that glyphosate can be found in more than 80% of the population’s urine.
A January 2023 study in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that people who were exposed to glyphosate weed-killers like Roundup showed signs of stress on the body — stress that could eventually cause cells to become cancerous.
Beginning this year, Bayer announced that Roundup and other glyphosate products will no longer be available for household use. However, these products will remain available for use in commercial agriculture.
Glyphosate continues to be used on crops around the world and could contribute to serious public health consequences — all because of corporate greed.
Roundup Cancer Lawsuits Complicate Bayer’s Claims About Safety
Lawsuits began mounting against Monsanto after the IARC’s labeling of glyphosate as possibly carcinogenic. To date, more than 165,000 people have sought legal justice against the makers of Roundup, and over 100,000 claims have already resulted in settlements.
However, Bayer and Monsanto continue to dodge accountability. The company has cited findings from an EPA study that claims glyphosate is “not likely to cause cancer,” but several of the panel members accused the EPA of failing to follow scientific protocol to make their conclusion.
Lianne Sheppard, one of the co-authors of the 2019 study linking glyphosate to NHL, claimed the EPA assessment was wrong. “It was pretty obvious they didn’t follow their own rules,” said Sheppard. “Is there evidence that it is carcinogenic? The answer is ‘yes.’”
In August 2018, a school groundskeeper who routinely used Roundup was awarded $289 Million in a landmark trial when a unanimous jury found the weed-killer caused his NHL. Bayer appealed the verdict and reduced their payout to the victim to $78 Million.
During the trial, internal Monsanto documents revealed the company’s hidden debates about the safety of the product for decades. Additionally, it was discovered that the studies the EPA cited as proof of glyphosate’s safety were ones produced by Monsanto itself.
Last year, a federal appeals court required the EPA to withdraw its label of glyphosate as safe. However, despite clear research proving Roundup is linked to cancer, Bayer continues to claim their product is safe.
Get Help from Our Roundup Cancer Attorneys
Consumers have a right to know the risks of the products on the market. They should not be exposed to chemicals that could jeopardize their health and safety simply so a corporation can profit.
If you were exposed to dangerous glyphosate weed-killers like Roundup and later diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or another type of Roundup cancer, you may be eligible to pursue compensation through a Roundup lawsuit.
For over 45 years, Sokolove Law has held corporations accountable for their negligence. Our Roundup cancer attorneys can help gather information, build your case, and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Contact our team at (800) 995-1212 to see how we can help you during a free legal case review.
