Is Roundup Weed Killer Safe to Use?

Over the last few years, Monsanto’s Roundup product has been in the news and been subject to a few massive jury verdicts. In those cases, plaintiffs argued that Roundup was a substantial factor in causing their non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Juries have agreed.

What is Roundup?

Roundup is the world’s most widely used herbicidal weed killer in the world. For more than four decades, Monsanto (purchased by German pharmaceutical giant Bayer in 2018) has produced and sold Roundup to commercial (farmers, groundskeepers) and private consumers alike.

The main weedkilling agent in Roundup is a chemical compound called glyphosate. In the late 1990s, Monsanto’s patent on glyphosate expired. Soon after, many other generic herbicide products began using glyphosate in their weed killers.

Why is Roundup so popular?

Because of its ability to kill weeds while not killing glyphosate-resistant crops, glyphosate is everywhere. Some experts estimate that over 90% of people have some level of exposure to glyphosate through residues in water, food, and dust.

We don’t know yet if any of us have an increased risk of cancer due to trace amounts of glyphosate residues in our environment.

Who’s most at risk for developing cancer from glyphosate?

In certain industries, however, workers face a much higher risk of significant exposure to glyphosate. These industries typically include farming, groundskeeping, lawn maintenance, and any other jobs that use weed killers consistently.

Oftentimes, these workers will use concentrated versions of glyphosate herbicide products and then dilute them with water. As a result, they’re exposed to an increased concentration of glyphosate. Combined with the frequency they use the product, these workers are exposed to dangerous levels of glyphosate.

2015: Glyphosate found “probably carcinogenic” to humans

In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a branch of the World Health Organization, determined that glyphosate was “probably carcinogenic” in humans. This finding sent a shockwave through the agricultural and other industries.

Soon after, many people sued companies like Monsanto, alleging that their non-Hodgkin lymphoma was caused by their use of glyphosate-based Roundup products on the job.

For decades, the EPA declared glyphosate as a safe product. However, the Roundup cancer lawsuits have revealed a couple of alarming facts:

1. The studies relied upon by the EPA did not take into consideration environmental or occupational exposure to glyphosate; and
2. Several of the scientific studies on glyphosate were funded by Monsanto – who would benefit the most financially for an EPA-approved stamp of safety.

Does Roundup cause cancer?

So far, several juries presented with medical science have rendered verdicts in the tens or hundreds of million dollars. One verdict was for more than $2 billion.

The science shows that people with significant exposure, particularly occupational exposure, to Roundup and other herbicides are at an increased risk of being diagnosed with certain subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

At Shannon Law Group, many of our clients who have filed Roundup lawsuits have elected to stop using any glyphosate-based products altogether. In my own household, we have switched to non-glyphosate-based weed alternatives, along with manual weed pulling. It’s a much safer option, even if we aren’t using glyphosate on a massive scale as many workers.

Diagnosed with NHL after Roundup exposure? We’re ready to help.

If you have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after exposure to glyphosate-based herbicide products, we encourage you to call us to discuss your legal options.

At Shannon Law Group, we provide free consultations and case analysis to help you decide if you should pursue a claim against the manufacturers of this dangerous product.

Call today at (312) 578-9501 or fill out the form at the bottom of this page to get started.